A new challenge created by Queenstown-based charitable trust Headlight aims to boost the mental wellbeing of employees across the resort.
Coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from September 18 to 24, the challenge kit supports this year’s awareness week theme — ‘Five Ways, Five Days’ — and focuses on helping people put the internationally-renowned ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ framework into practice.
Supported by Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group, the challenge highlights one of the Five Ways to Wellbeing — connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give — each day.
Ideas include running a ‘‘great cheese roll cook-off’’, ‘walk and talk’ meetings, a ‘little win bin’ and a ‘pass it on challenge’ to get entire organisations involved in small activities for the week.
The kit also includes ideas for ways staff and customers can get involved in raising money, which will support Headlight’s mental health education projects in the Southern region.
Chief executive Anna Dorsey believes, particularly in light of Covid, it’s critical that mental health remains a priority for businesses and the wider community.
‘‘We wanted to find an easy, practical way to share mental health education across the region and get people onboard to proactively care for their wellbeing.’’
She says the kit helps business leaders create a win-win — free, low-cost and easy ways to support their staff’s mental health, and help the wider community at the same time.
Arrowtown’s Millbrook Resort’s one of the organisations taking part — their people and culture manager, Louise Baines, says the mental wellbeing of their team is paramount to them, and they’re looking forward to the activities they have planned during Mental Health Awareness Week.
‘‘We’ll be holding a shared lunch, asking team members to ‘pass it on’ to help get people engaged in the Five Ways to Wellbeing, and are also planning fundraising opportunities with members to help us give back to the mental wellbeing of our wider community.’’
Ziptrek Ecotours and Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce have also signed up — the latter’s CEO, Sharon Fifield, says her team’s up for the staff challenge, and will be promoting the kit to members.
‘‘Being in business can be tough.
‘‘There are many pressures on both employers and their staff with rising prices, cost of living pressures and even the basics, like finding suitable accommodation.
‘‘Checking in with each other on how we’re doing is important.
‘‘The chamber team is looking forward to getting involved, and already has some ‘net-walking’ and team building planned for the week.’’
Organisations can sign up for the challenge via headlight.org.nz and dow load the kit for free.
