Mental Health Awareness Week: we're making a commitment

The mental health of Brinksters is an important one for us, and we care about it every week, not just #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek. 🧠

As part of our work around vitality and wellbeing, we’ve recently signed up to the Mental Health at Work Commitment, curated by Mind, along with over 1,400 like-minded organisations.

What does this mean?

Mental health has always been a priority for Brink. Brink was founded by Abi and Lea, who are both trained psychologists and coaches, passionate about building a small but mighty team capable of making significant dents on the world.

One of the reasons they started Brink was to recognise something that they felt so often gets ignored - that in the hard work of innovation in high-stakes environments or complex systemic change, ultimately the innovation and change is driven by people. And people matter. Brink’s team matters. By looking out for their team and having a team that is equipped for self management too (because innovation management is self management), in turn that team can go on to do the best work of their lives with the clients, partners and many innovators around the world we are privileged to work with.

Now we’re declaring that publicly, to be part of a movement promoting better mental health at work.

What is the Mental Health at Work Commitment?

It’s a framework of six clear standards drawn from best practice and what’s been evidenced to to make a difference and better equip employers to create an environment where their people can thrive.

What are the Six Standards?

1. Prioritise mental health in the workplace by developing and delivering a systematic programme of activity
2. Proactively ensure work design and organisational culture drive positive mental health outcomes
3. Promote an open culture around mental health
4. Increase organisational confidence and capability
5. Provide mental health tools and support
6. Increase transparency and accountability through internal and external reporting

What's our next step?

First up we’ll evaluate how we currently track against the standard. From there we’ll know where the gaps are so we can address them with activities that follow the recommendations of the Commitment and are in line with what Brinksters need.

A final word. ❤️ When you’re not okay, letting others know is really one of the very hardest things to do. To all those Brinksters who have ever had to raise a hand to flag your mental health has not been okay, here’s to you. It’s also the only way we can put support and any adjustments in place and make sure we’re being the best employer we can be. So, thank you.

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