Throughout the past year at Rocket, I feel extremely proud that we have provided all our line managers with a ‘Mental Health Skills for Managers’ training. The course allowed them to feel more confident in having open conversations about mental health with their team members. We have also written and published an official Mental Health Policy and Neurodiversity Policy, together with taking care of a ‘Wellbeing Action Plan’ template that all employees have since incorporated into regular employee-manager ‘check-ins’.
In particular, the ‘Wellbeing Action Plan’ template encourages wellbeing conversations so that each line manager can benefit from a greater understanding of their team members. This additional knowledge can help managers identify and adjust to each employee’s needs whilst helping create an open culture within our team and ultimately provide a mentally healthy working environment at Rocket.
Another vital aspect gaining prominence throughout Mental Health Awareness Week this year is the profound influence that movement has on mental health.
We all know that physical activity has long been hailed for its positive effects on mental health, from alleviating anxiety and stress, to enhancing our cognitive abilities and our mood in general. Speaking from my own personal perspective, I have Multiple Sclerosis and have always found exercise extremely beneficial to both my health and my general wellbeing. When I can't fit in my morning runs or evening gym sessions, I notice my symptoms worsening. While this might be psychological, I've found integrating movement into my daily routine immensely beneficial and will continue to advocate for it.
At Rocket we have arranged group Strava walking challenges, last time a group of Rocketeers collectively walked to the moon and back! These challenges provide a simple, inclusive way for all employees to enjoy fresh air, exercise, and improve their personal mental health.
Back in 2020, Rocket implemented daily ‘Elevenses’, an 11am catch-up happening each morning on Teams, with cuppa in hand, ready for (non-work related) chats that all Rocketeers can sometimes miss out on a little due to Rocket’s remote working model.
During Mental Health Awareness Week 2024, we want to ensure that our diverse team of Rocketeers, based across the globe, can all get involved. This is the reason why, starting Monday the 13th, Rocket will host a series of events throughout the week, replacing Elevenses:
Monday 13th - Tea and Talk! Sharing Monday feelings in a supportive environment.
Tuesday 14th – Singing for the soul with Donna Unitt (Rocket’s Queen of the Choir), a session to lift spirits through music.
Wednesday 15th – Workout Wednesday with Glenn Walsh (Rocket’s Mr. Motivator).
Thursday 16th – ‘Looking After Your Mental Health’, a session with Dominique Gipson, one of our Rocketeers who has recently completed the ‘Understanding Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace’ course.
Friday 17th – Mental Health Quiz, testing the team’s knowledge on mental health, followed by an end of the week chat about how the week has been for everybody. This will be hosted by Sarah Murray, who put this week’s programme together.
On Thursday, Rocket will be encouraging everyone to wear something green for the day in support of Mental Health Foundation and their ‘Wear it Green Day’. Rocket will be donating its ‘Good Causes Fund’ for May to this amazing organisation, which was formed in 1949 and has been leading the UK in building good mental health with evidence-backed help, advice and resources. Each day there will be useful information published internally: links to great podcasts, book recommendations, activities, recipes and other general hints and tips for fostering good mental health.
Each Rocketeer brings a unique blend of strengths and experiences to the company. Embracing diversity in all its forms, including neurodiversity, fosters innovation and creativity at Rocket and by celebrating the differences within the wonderful Rocket family, we can tap into a wealth of perspectives and talents, enhancing problem-solving and decision-making processes.
Cultivating a culture of openness and support enables us to help break down the stigma surrounding mental health, creating an environment where we hope our Rocketeers feel empowered to seek help when needed, fostering a more positive work culture and enhancing mental wellbeing.
Emma Dart, Chief of Staff, Rocket Consulting
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