November 20, 2018 - Mike Dilke

This week the RELAXBACK UK show covers the Wellbeing @Work Event - London November 2018.

The topic of the conference was mental health. Mental ill health is responsible for 91 million working days lost and costs employers £34.9 billion each year in the UK and business is starting to take this seriously and realises that helping its staff can help their bottom line as well.

There were some influential thought leaders present and I was lucky enough to hook up with some. Poppy Jaman OBE, CEO of City Mental Health Alliance gave the  keynote address and then chatted to me about the issues that she finds especially important.

She gave advice on who to talk to if you feel you might be feeling the symptoms of mental ill health - she is very keen to make people understand that seeking help is a strength and not a weakness. Sources she suggested contacting are here:-

• Your GP
• Your workplace assistance programme if their is one - often available to immediate family as well
• Mind - tel 0300 1233393
• Samaritans - tel 116 123

I also spoke with Nicola Gatenby. She grew tired of the culture of stress and burnout in the creative industries so started her own business that does things differently - her company is called Propellernet. She has also written a book about how she did it that also talks about some of the mistakes she made along the way. Hear her here.

I spoke to other attendees and exhibitors - all fascinating people and if you didn't get on this edition of the Relaxback UK show then I hope to get you on another.

• Gudrun Snorra - with the Langley Group. She was visiting from Iceland.
• Fennel Waters - she works in the British Embassy in France and amongst other things helps embassy staff with their mental health.
• Sonja Montague McKay - she runs a wellbeing school called Wild Orange

Thank you to all those who chatted to me for your time - I enjoyed talking with you all. If you have any comments or questions about the topics in the Relaxback UK show please do make or ask them here.