At Beritaz Care, we understand the important role we play in supporting the mental health of our residents and staff. We believe conversations around mental health and wellbeing are something to be encouraged. We always try to maintain open communication with both our residents and staff so they feel safe to discuss anything on their minds. Supporting the mental health of our residents is a key aspect of the holistic care we provide within our nursing and residential care homes.
Mental Health Awareness Week happens every year and is the perfect opportunity to educate yourself on mental health issues, check in with your loved ones, and take some time to consider how you are addressing your own mental health.
The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is… community!
“Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing. We thrive when we have strong connections with other people and supportive communities that remind us, we are not alone. Communities can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and give us a sense of purpose.”
Building a sense of community within our homes is a big part of our company ethos. Through activities, events and daily opportunities for socialisation, we help our residents to connect with each other and with our staff members. Our goal is to create tight-knit and supportive communities within our homes. Residents are given the opportunity to share in group activities, where they can enjoy a hobby together while having a chat and bonding over shared interests.
Through dedicated one-on-one time with residents, our staff are able to build close bonds and grow trust, which helps residents to feel comfortable coming to our staff to talk when there is anything on their minds. It isn’t just physical care but emotional care that our staff aim to provide. We strive to create an environment where our residents feel comfortable talking about how they feel.
We are incredibly grateful to be a part of the local communities surrounding our homes. We are fortunate to have some wonderful organisations and individuals who support our homes and give their time to spread joy to our residents. Local schools, religious institutions and individual volunteers often pay a visit to our residents to provide entertainment, lead an activity, or just enjoy a chat, all to put a smile on our residents’ faces. We endeavour to support these communities in turn, hosting events for community members to help those who might be in need of some company, like our Fish & Chips Fridays at Ashton Manor, and with various fundraising activities to support local causes.
Our residents’ friends and family members are also an important part of the communities we are building within our homes. Relatives and friends are invited to join in with the celebrations and seasonal events held at the homes, giving them the chance to make special memories with their loved ones. It is always heartwarming to see the positive impact spending time with their favourite people has on the mental health of our residents.
As an employer, the mental health of our staff is also very important to us. We want our staff to know they are part of a supportive community within our homes, where they can speak to their managers, senior staff members and their colleagues about anything they may be struggling with. When working in the care industry, there can be times that take their toll on the mental health of our team, but they know that if they need some extra help or simply if they want to talk, we are here.
Knowing that they are part of the wider Beritaz Care community is something that is very important to our staff. We are there to support each other, across our four homes and business support centre, there is always someone at the end of the phone to offer a helping hand. We arrange events to help team members bond and get to know each other on a personal level as well as professionally, helping to build that community and support network.
Both as a care provider and an employer, we think mental health should be a top priority. So whether it’s through conversation, self-care, taking some downtime or speaking to a mental health professional, we encourage everyone to do whatever they need to do to take care of their mental health.
There are some fantastic resources available through the Mental Health Foundation, to help those struggling with stress, depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions. To find out more about Mental Health Awareness Week and how you can get involved, visit: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week