WHY KINDNESS MATTERS MORE THAN EVER
May 19, 2020
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme this year is kindness.
It’s a well-known fact that looking after others is a good way to look after yourself. ‘We know that one act of kindness can lead to many more,’ stated Mark Rowland, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation. Research shows that kindness is an antidote to isolation and creates a sense of belonging which, in turn, reduces stress, brings a fresh perspective, and deepens friendships. It benefits other people but also ourselves in improving feelings of confidence and optimism.
Hopefully, most of us are kind by nature but how often do we make kindness a deliberate act? The aim of Awareness Week is to make us think. Are there more ways we can be kind? Can we reach out to more people? How can we be kinder to ourselves?
The Coronavirus pandemic has certainly brought to our attention many acts of kindness – the fundraising feats of Captain Tom Moore, for example, and the nation’s Thursday evening clap in appreciation of our key workers. No doubt you can find your own examples amongst your colleagues, friends, and communities.
Whilst Mental Health Awareness Week is great for shining a spotlight on wellbeing, it is an issue that needs to continually addressed, hence our decision to support the Lighthouse Club, a charity dedicated to providing wellbeing and financial assistance to people who work in the construction industry and their families.
This week, Lighthouse Club is running a series of online workshops providing information and tools you can use to stay well, particularly during Coronavirus.
Ongoing, however, the organisation provides a 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline which is available to construction workers and their families in the UK and Ireland. The charity also provides emergency financial aid to construction families in crisis, advice on occupational health and mental wellbeing as well as support on legal, tax, and debt management matters. You can find out more here.
Resources you may find useful
The Mental Health Foundation has a series of podcasts and videos on a range of wellbeing topics, from stress, sleep, and relaxation to overcoming fear and anxiety.
The Lighthouse Club is offering a series of online workshops on mindfulness, resilience, and meditation. Sign up here.