Mental Health Awareness Week 2024

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. This important campaign, organised by The Mental Health Foundation, focuses on and raises awareness of improving our mental health.

This year’s theme ‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health’ emphasises the significance of movement for mental health. Movement, including exercise, outdoor activities, or even simple tasks like walking, is crucial for both mental and physical well-being. Regular movement not only improves mental health but also helps prevent various diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. Incorporating movement into daily routines can have profound positive effects on overall health.

Some of the many benefits of movement for our mental health include:

• Less tension, stress, and mental fatigue: Regular exercise helps to reduce levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This alleviates tension, stress, and mental fatigue.
• Natural energy boost: Engaging in physical activity increases blood flow and oxygen circulation throughout the body. This can result in a noticeable increase in energy levels.
• Sense of achievement: Setting and achieving personal fitness goals, whether big or small, can boost self-esteem.
• More focus and motivation: Exercise has been shown to enhance cognitive function, including concentration, memory, and problem-solving abilities.
• Feeling less angry or frustrated: Physical activity can help to release emotions and reduce feelings of anger or frustration.
• Having fun: Whether it’s through sports, dancing, hiking, or any other form of physical activity, moving more can be fun.
• An opportunity to connect with others: Participating in group fitness classes, team sports, or outdoor gives an opportunity to socialise and connect with others.

How can you move more?

Research has found that people who are inactive have three times the rate of moderate to severe depression of active people. The Mental Health Foundation have provided some great tips on ways that we can be more active in our day to day lives. Take a look at them in the link on their website: Boost your mental health by moving more

What we do at Natta

Studies show that over a third (37%) of adults in the UK find it challenging to allocate time for physical activity. Employers can empower their staff to make self-care a priority and include healthy habits into their daily work routines. At Natta we encourage everyone to always take regular breaks throughout the working day. Our Head Office complex has an artificial grass football pitch, a breakout room including a table tennis table, and a gym to promote physical activity as a way for our staff to take a break from their desks, socialise and team build with other colleagues. These facilities are also available for use by our site team.

Every year, we organise a ‘Wellness Week‘ for all of our staff at Head Office and on site. The wellness team run various sporting and wellness activities for our employees to participate in throughout the week, aiming to enhance their overall health and well-being. We share posters, flyers, and videos related to wellness on our company Intranet to raise awareness about these important topics for all of our staff.

Facilities at Natta Head Office

Lighthouse Club Charity

Natta has proudly signed up to be a ‘supporter’ of the Lighthouse Club Charity for a second year running! The Lighthouse Club offers wellbeing support to construction workers and their families. The Construction Industry Helpline App is installed on our staff’s mobile devices. If they require a confidential conversation or immediate assistance, the necessary support is right at their fingertips. We have implemented a Wellbeing and Mental Health policy for our business as well.

Sources – Mental Health Foundation