Star Refrigeration is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week 2022

This year the theme is Loneliness which affects millions of people across the UK.

The week, which is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, is in its 22nd year and runs from 9-15 May.

This year, the theme for the week is ‘Loneliness’. Across the country, people will be reflecting on loneliness and how it impacts our mental health. Long-term loneliness is closely linked to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Star Refrigeration will be taking part by celebrating positive news stories and hosting wellbeing activities for employees including coffee catch ups, a pet photography competition and a mental health workshop.

Star will also be raising awareness of the ongoing support available through their trained mental health first aiders and will be hosting a lunch and learn session on the employee assistance programme which provides mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing support.

Gillian Dunbar, Human Resources Administrator at Star Refrigeration said “We are proud to be taking part in Mental Health Awareness Week as part of our efforts to promote a positive and open culture within the company. We aim to ensure that our employees feel they can speak honestly about their mental health and have access support they need. We have trained mental health first aiders across all our branches and our EAP offer counselling sessions, both of which are available to our employees at all times. Today’s Mental Health Workshop was a great success and I am looking forward to the rest of the week’s activities!”

Mark Rowland Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation said “We hope this year’s theme of loneliness will strike a chord with many of us who felt lonely and struggled throughout the Covid pandemic. Millions of us experience loneliness from time to time. We know that some people are at higher risk of experiencing loneliness and the evidence shows the longer we feel lonely, the more we are at risk of mental health problems.”

“Loneliness deserves more attention and we’re calling on everyone who has struggled as a result of being lonely to share their experiences. We must work together – as individuals, as a society and through government policy – to reduce loneliness and prevent mental health problems by investing in welcoming, social spaces and new community initiatives.”

Some of the ways people can participate in Mental Health Awareness Week:

• During Mental Health Awareness Week use the hashtag #IveBeenThere to share experiences of loneliness to support others and give the campaign momentum.
• Sign up to walk, run or job as part of our 80 Miles in May challenge and share your photos using #80MilesinMay and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.

For more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week visit mentalhealth.org.uk/mhaw or join the conversation on social media using #IveBeenThere and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek