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World Mental Health Day: It is okay to ask for help, and as businesses, we should be supporting our colleagues to get help

In a world where mental health is increasingly recognised as a universal human right, Klöckner Pentaplast (kp) stands committed to fostering a resilient workforce and prioritising the mental wellbeing of all our employees. Together, we can build a brighter and healthier future for everyone.
World Mental Health Day 3Today is World Mental Health Day. A time for reflection, and action, to ensure we all take steps to improve our mental health and wellbeing and support those around us.
 
The last few years have been marked by unprecedented challenges that have affected individuals and organisations on a global scale. The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it not only the fear of the virus but also profound disruption to our daily lives. Remote work, social isolation, and economic uncertainties became the new norm. These changes will have impacted our mental health, and many business leaders recognise now, more than ever, the pressing need for proactive support for our workforces.

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We recognise that mental health is a fundamental component of overall wellbeing, affecting not only our employees' personal lives but also their job satisfaction.


Our teams are at the heart of our businesses. And productive and resilient workforces will ensure we achieve our goals. But we need to invest in these teams – in their environments and their wellbeing. We recognise that mental health is a fundamental component of overall wellbeing, affecting not only our employees' personal lives but also their job satisfaction.
 
Our goal at kp is not only to raise awareness about the importance of mental health but also to dismantle the stigma surrounding it. We’re committed to ensuring that every employee feels safe, valued, and supported in addressing their mental health needs, regardless of their role.
 
But what does that mean in practice? We want everyone to feel they can ask for help, and to also know where they can get assistance. We don’t have it all figured out, but we’re putting measures in place to show a more consistent and meaningful commitment.
 
We believe meaningful change starts with understanding. That's why we have implemented employee surveys and are in the process of establishing a more connected approach to employee feedback.
World Mental Health Day 2We’re focused on delivering the support our teams are asking for. To date, feedback has influenced:
  • Our Global Employee Assistance Programme; we will give all employees access to free anxiety and depression counselling, and other wellbeing support and resources. 
  • Our flexible working policy: we’re now considering how we can extend flexible working arrangements to desk-based employees as we acknowledge that achieving a positive work-life balance is vital for everyone.
  • Our staffing rotas: we’ll soon be working to offer more predictable shift patterns to our deskless employees to provide stability and reduce the stress associated with irregular work hours. We’re also working to foster a culture where the stigma that used to surround mental health is no more. To further empower our teams in the coming year, we plan to provide comprehensive mental health awareness training for all our managers. This will equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to create a supportive and stigma-free workplace that we can all be proud of.
Our commitment to fostering a workplace culture that prioritises mental health has never been stronger. We are taking decisive steps to support our employees' mental health, but we recognise that change is a journey, and it takes time to get things right.
Garry Randall
Chief Human Resources Officer, Klöckner Pentaplast
However, if you do just one thing after reading this article, I urge you to get familiar with the types of mental health concerns we, our colleagues and our families and friends may be facing. And it always pays to remember that even people who aren’t in crisis and perhaps don’t report having mental health issues, can benefit from reflecting on their wellbeing. Practicing mindfulness, practicing breathing techniques and gratitude journalling are a couple of techniques those close to me recommend.
 
As I've said, our vision is to create a workplace where mental health stigma is eliminated, and every individual feels empowered to prioritise their wellbeing. If you’ve got any suggestions about what else we should be doing, do get in touch.

Garry Randall
Chief Human Resources Officer
Klöckner Pentaplast
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