Wanting to move on and forget about the pandemic seems like a totally natural and human response. For many, it has been a profoundly difficult time and if you’re lucky and it hasn’t, either way, most people want to move forward and focus on something more positive.

But as the recent quarterly statistics from NABS indicate, moving on isn’t so easy. Our industry is full of people searching for purpose, direction, or in some cases just a bit of a break after an extremely taxing couple of years.

It is important to remember that as we emerge into a new world of hybrid working, sometimes in the office, sometimes back at the kitchen table, it can be easy for people to feel isolated. Which is why we believe this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme of loneliness is so important to recognise and try to alleviate.

Empathy is one of the core principles of our business and employee mental health has long been an issue we dedicate time and resources to. The pandemic is certainly full of things to forget, but it has also helped us review our support for employees in new ways.

Making sure everyone feels seen and has a way to engage with each other is vital. It sounds simple, but technology such as Slack has not just helped us to work remotely, but formed a great platform for us to foster positive mental health habits.

Our London office has a specific channel that focuses on Mental Health news. Every Monday we share a Mental Health Reminder, with advice on how to start the week off well and encouraging a check-in with yourself or colleagues. This week, it was home to a myriad of great announcements regarding internal initiatives to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, such as a bake sale to fundraise for Mind.

In the last few years, before covid and after, we have tried a range of activities to bring us closer together as a team. Some of which have stuck, others which will probably remain hilarious one offs. But the important thing - and closely aligned with our company ethos - is to continually test new things and learn what works. Employee-led yoga sessions, a cook off that saw teams collaborating on different dishes, and even our creative department trying their hand at stand up comedy have all been wonderful experiences.

We are also lucky to be part of The Ministry, a shared workspace for the creative and technology industries in London. They too value personal connections and provide a wealth of services in relation to health, wellbeing, and observe significant religious and cultural events to make everyone feel welcome.

Being courageous enough to acknowledge that no one agency can have all the answers themselves is important too. In 2019, we partnered with Sanctus, who provide confidential third party advice given by trained professionals. Having that in place before the pandemic started was invaluable and a huge asset during a difficult time.

We also have long-standing partnerships with NABS, Health Assured, and Help at Hand and we are about to embark on our first financial wellbeing session with TOMII. Financial wellbeing seems like an often overlooked element of mental health and we want employees to feel supported as the cost of living increases for all of us.

Working with experts like these is crucial for providing people with the right help at the right time. A well intentioned colleague is almost always appreciated - but we want to ensure that we are protecting our staff and no one person or team has to shoulder the burden of others. Everyone has access to confidential and professional advice, should they need it.

Combatting loneliness and encouraging positive mental health habits takes time and loving care. People want to be reached in different ways and one partner or tool will not necessarily work for everyone. NABS’ findings show there is clearly still a long way to go and as a sector we need to continue doing all we can to ensure things don’t worsen.

However, in the spirit of moving on from the pandemic and adapting to the changing world around us, now is a great time to take another look at what works, invest in it, and make a concerted effort to make sure no-one feels excluded or left behind.

Getting it right will create healthier, happier, and ultimately - more successful businesses.