How Bristol’s response to burnout could make us leaders in wellbeing

Bristol24/7 is marking Mental Health Awareness week with a special event focusing on burnout and wellbeing in the workplace.

The free, virtual event will feature a panel discussion covering topics from best practice and challenges faced to supporting mums back into the workplace and the importance of an office as a safe space.

The first in the Bristol24/7 Presents 2021 series takes place on Thursday, May 17 from 2pm. It will be hosted by Bristol24/7’s Safiya Bashir and there will also be video contributions from Better Business members and others across the city.

The aim is to open frank discussions and explore how Bristol employers can lead the way in fostering workplaces that support good mental wellbeing and effectively tackle issues such as staff burnout.

To that end, Bristol24/7 has compiled a pioneering team of panellists:

Jess Borthwick from Changes Bristol delivers training on mental health and wellbeing – photo courtesy of Jess Borthwick

Jess Borthwick works for mental health charity Changes Bristol, which provides support to those in mental distress in the city. Jess works to ensure the smooth running of the groups, supporting staff and volunteers and designing and delivering training.

She is keen to focus on digital exclusion and the lack of informal support for mental health during lockdown, as well as the increased use of services provided by changes during lockdown.

Bianca Jones has worked with companies such as Airbus, Aardman Animations and We the Curious – photo courtesy of Bianca Jones

Bianca Jones is a qualified Mental Health First Aid England instructor at EDP Training and travels across the UK delivering various wellbeing and mental health training to businesses to improve mental health throughout organisations.

She is passionate about adult learning and utilising accelerated learning techniques to aid training and has worked with companies such as Airbus, Aardman Animations and We the Curious.

Bianca’s own lived experience of depression and anxiety helps her to deliver authentic training, which she is passionate about and it also highlights the importance of prevention, self-help and empowering people to take control of their own wellbeing.

Camilla Rigby believes all mothers should be supported to achieve their potential – photo courtesy of Camilla Rigby

Camilla Rigby is the co-founder of Women’s Work Lab, an organisation that supports unemployed mums aged 25 and over to become work-ready.

She has a passionate belief that all mothers should be supported to achieve their potential and to do this, the organisation supports unemployed mums back into the workplace through training to build confidence, ambition and employability skills.

Camilla is keen to focus on issues that include parents (particularly women) with children with special education needs, the need for flexibility, the importance of the office as safe space (for people living with domestic abuse) and those organisations that are keeping offices open during pandemic.

Daisy Roach is a champion for the need for wellbeing support – photo courtesy of Daisy Roach 

Daisy Roach if the head of HR for Better Food, a Bristol-based chain of organic food stores and cafés.

She has a passion for wellbeing and mental health after working for more than ten years in HR. Daisy focused her studies at university on mental health discrimination in the workplace and is a champion for the need for wellbeing support.

Speaking ahead of the event, Bianca says: “I’ve designed and delivered mental health and wellbeing training for the last four years to companies and individuals and there is a common theme of not taking care of one’s self, not setting boundaries or replenishing our batteries.

“There is a huge reluctance around this as some people say this feels lazy, selfish or self-indulgent. I advocate that its neither and its actually vital for our survival in this current busy world. It’s almost like we need to do a software update on our brains, download some resilience and upload some self care.”

The event aims to promote positive action and help businesses lead the way in fostering a healthy, productive workforce and avoiding workplace burnout.

Sign up for the free event for an hour and a half of insightful discussion and recommendations on how to create a healthy workplace: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-bristols-response-to-burnout-could-make-us-leaders-in-wellbeing-tickets-150547829611.

Read more: Exploring burnout and wellbeing in the workplace