Today, TCC and Recordsure are proud to be celebrating the World Mental Health Day (WMHD) initiative, which aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and drive positive change surrounding mental health treatment and advocacy.

Held annually on 10^th October, the World Foundation of Mental Health has designated this year’s theme as ‘mental health is a universal human right’, highlighting how mental wellbeing should be a priority for everyone – no matter their age, gender or nationality.

Changing the conversation about mental health

World Mental Health Day was first established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health, an international non-governmental project that now operates in more than 150 countries globally.

In addition to shedding light on campaigns for greater provisions of mental health services worldwide, the event is also a chance for people to talk with friends, family and colleagues about mental health topics more generally. And critically, for those who may be struggling, it’s a time to re-iterate the importance of engaging with the variety of help now available to them.

Historically, mental health has all too often been treated as a taboo topic, but thankfully – credit to events like WMHD – that now seems to be changing.

Last year, for the first time, the Ipso World Mental Health Day Survey reported that mental health (mentioned by an average of 36% per country) now ranks higher than cancer (34%) when people are asked to think about top health concerns. In fact, over three-quarters of people now say mental and physical health are equally vital, whilst over half now ‘often’ pay attention to their own mental wellbeing.

So, initiatives like WMHD are clearly having a much-needed impact on the way we think about mental health – but there’s still work to be done.

Mental Health at TCC & Recordsure

At TCC and Recordsure, we take our employees’ mental health extremely seriously, and we actively promote mental wellbeing issues across our business with regular news, updates and awareness campaigns – and offer support to our employees.

Remote work has its advantages, but it can also be isolating and emotionally taxing. Team members may struggle with feelings of loneliness, burnout, and increased stress levels. World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and validate these challenges.

Observing World Mental Health Day also helps to create a workplace culture that prioritises mental health. When staff feel supported and encouraged to open up about their mental health concerns, it can lead to improved overall well-being.

That’s why we’re delighted that our team features a Mental Health Champion and two Mental Health First Aiders who are fully qualified with Mental Health England to provide mental health support and guidance for our employees.

Our employee benefits programme also includes access to resources such as the popular mental wellness app Headspace and the MyWellness hub – in addition to 24/7 counselling and other forms of therapy through our employee health plan.

But it’s not all about us: we’re passionate about contributing to positive change among the wider community, having designated the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) as our Charity of the Year for our fundraising efforts.

Most recently, a team of our employees bravely hiked up Yorkshire’s Pen-Y-Ghent peak in September 2023, raising more than £1,000 in the process – a fantastic sum that is matched by the businesses for the cause!

Remember, mental health matters in every aspect of our lives. Together, we can break down the stigma surrounding mental health and create a more mental health-positive and compassionate culture for all.