
Did you know the third Monday in January, is unofficially called “Blue Monday”, and has been marked as the most depressing day of the year?
The festive period seems a lifetime ago, many New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside, and, for accountancy and tax professionals, it is often the busiest time of year.
With increasing workloads and long, dark winter days, it is vital for accountancy practices to ensure they look after the mental health and wellbeing of their teams. As part of our CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) commitment to our staff, we focus on creating a healthy work environment all year round and giving everyone a safe space to talk about their mental health.
The Samaritans “say out with the blue and in with a brew”, aiming to shift focus of the day by encouraging people to reach out to loved ones for a chat and a cuppa as part of their Brew Monday campaign.
Wilder Coe’s Mental Health Champions advocate prioritising your mental health in the workplace, implementing various wellbeing practices, and giving space for colleagues to talk. As part of Brew Monday, our Mental Health Champions invited our teams to consider their 3Ps for the day; offering an opportunity to reflect on brighter and happier moments of the day.
✨ Positive Action
✨ Positive Interaction
✨ Positive Thoughts
Caba, an occupational charity that supports ICAEW accountants, encourages people to think about their mental health every day and try to protect it. Good mental health is not ignoring negative thoughts and feelings, it is understanding and managing these effectively. Accountants must learn to identify signs that they are struggling and avoid burnout, especially during busier periods where workload is heavy, and client requests are demanding.
“Our aim as mental health champions”, says Balbir Dhesi,” is to promote well-being, normalise conversations around mental health, and provide early support.
We recognise that everyone’s needs and interests are different, so when planning our well-being calendar for the year, we ensure its varied and engaging for all. We aim to inspire meaningful conversations and foster a culture that values the importance of both physical and emotional wellbeing”.
Throughout the year, the Mental Health Champions, alongside the CSR committee, run initiatives and incentives to create a supportive, happier and healthier workplace.