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The Mental Health Foundation has hosted Mental Health Awareness Week in the second week of May since 2000. In previous years, the week has focused on how mindfulness, anxiety, sleep deprivation and relationships can impact our mental health. In 2017, the theme will be ‘surviving to thriving’. This year at Blythe Valley Park, we will be looking at how we can help our occupiers step away from work and find time to relax within their working day through a range of fun and free workshops on site. Click read more to find out what they will be and how you can sign up to attend!

A 2009 study by McManus et al shows that approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, which means that many of us will be affected in our lifetimes, so encouraging wellness in the workplace can only help to reduce the number of people affected.

Another study that was conducted by CBRE in 2016 into ‘Wellness in the Workplace’ found that 10.4 million working days are lost due to stress in the UK in one year. We know that many aspects of life can be stressful, therefore with our ‘Wellness at Work’ campaign we want to offer stress-free activities that everybody can enjoy. Everyone finds different ways to relax, so we are offering a range of free workshops week commencing 5th June between 12pm and 2pm that people can take part in, but there are limited numbers – so hurry over to bulletin and find out how you can sign up to be involved.

High Intensity Exercise – Evidence shows that there is a link between being physically active and good mental wellbeing (NHS, 2016). Virgin Active at BVP are running ‘Get up and go’ circuits on the lawn on Monday 5th June at 12.30pm – 1.15pm – get your week started with a bang! There are only 25 places so be quick to sign up!

Dog Walking – Keith Humphreys, a professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Stanford University says that “when we focus attention on taking care of a pet, it helps take our minds off our own worries”. Therefore, Daybreaks Kennels, who help to rescue retired greyhounds, have offered to bring some of their dogs to BVP so they can be walked by you! They will be at BVP on Tuesday 6th June between 12pm and 2pm – there are 24 slots of 20 minutes for you to take these lovely pooches for a stroll around our country park!

Painting Class – Adult colouring books are currently all the rage, and this is because creating art helps to distract ourselves from our usual thoughts, which in turn can help us to relax. We have asked ‘The Crafty Hen’ to run two mug painting classes on Thursday 8th June from 12pm – 2pm (one session at 12.10 and one at 1.15pm) If this sounds like your cup of tea then sign up now – as there is a maximum of 15 people per session!

Yoga – “Yoga is an ancient form of exercise that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to boost physical and mental wellbeing” (NHS, 2015). Virgin Active will also running a ‘relax into the weekend’ yoga session on Friday 9th June 12.30 – 1.15pm to get you relax and ready for the weekend. There are 20 places available – sign up now!

To sign up for any of the above, please email emily.coombs@improperties.co.uk with the workshop you would like to attend, your name, and contact details. But be quick! As there are limited places.

References:

McManus, S., Meltzer, H., Brugha, T. S., Bebbington, P. E., & Jenkins, R. (2009). Adult psychiatric morbidity in England, 2007: results of a household survey. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/yoga.aspx
https://www.thedodo.com/pets-help-anxiety-1223901348.html

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