Globally, we are dedicated to putting our people at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where every single team member is valued and feels supported. Awareness of issues surrounding mental health and what we can do to provide support for colleagues who might be facing challenges is integral to that commitment.
We are proud to support Time to Talk Day (Thursday, February 6), a nationwide campaign across the UK to encourage and stimulate open, honest conversations about mental health.
To mark this special day, we are shining a spotlight on our team of Mental Health Advocates (MHAs) based in our UK headquarters in Aberdeen, Scotland. Emma Maher, Diane McArthur, Laura Moon, Dariusz Roseger, Lewis Steel, Andrew Burnett, Louise Ellis and Shaun Coetzer are all volunteers who have taken on these important roles over and above their day-to-day jobs.
This year’s theme of Time to Talk Day is “Get comfortable and start talking about mental health”. Across the country friends, families, and people in communities and workplaces will come together to talk, listen, and engage in conversation to disperse the stigma that exists around mental health.
Our team of MHAs have differing motivations that lead them to volunteer for this role. They are united in a common purpose to help create a supportive environment where people feel safe to express themselves without fear of judgment. They are there to be a listening ear for those who need it, to provide advice, to show that help is available and that they are not alone.
The contribution they make to ensure that our workplace is a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment is invaluable. People struggling with burdens often feel isolated but talking with others can help them feel comfortable enough to seek help when they need it.
The importance of talking openly and honestly about mental health cannot be overestimated as a way of breaking down the stigma that still exists and prevents so many people from seeking help when they need it.
The UK’s biggest conversation about mental health, Time to Talk Day is run by See Me with Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) in Scotland, Mind and Rethink in England, Inspire in Northern Ireland, and Time to Change Wales, all in partnership with the Co-op.