Supporting the health and wellbeing of ourselves and colleagues is an essential aspect of business, and so it was only natural that Iceni Projects participated in Mental Health Awareness Week.

All week we have welcomed guests from different aspects of the coaching, health, and wellbeing professions to shine a light on different aspects of mental health during stimulating and interactive lunchtime talks. From deploying mind techniques to improve performance and to help manage potentially stressful situations, to understanding the power of food in providing balance, we have been encouraged to think carefully about how important wellbeing is in our lives and the workplace. Yet it can often be overlooked.

We would like to extend a special thanks to our speakers who took the time to impart their expertise this week: Evette Rochester and Catherine House (Counsellors in Mental Health); James Pereira QC (FTB Chambers) and Zita Tulyahikayo (Lifetherapywithzita); Vicky Warr, Health and Fitness Coach (bumpandbeyond.club/); and Sophie Turner, Odyssey Mentor.

At Iceni we have a culture of supporting our colleagues, acknowledging that an individual’s wellbeing is vitally important to helping them grow and develop, and that not everyone’s needs are the same. The wellbeing allowance we provide enables every individual to focus on their individual needs, be that gym membership to raise endorphins or acupuncture to restore balance; whatever positively contributes to their health and wellbeing.

Health and wellbeing is vital to the work we do, from how we advise our clients, to how we engage with other stakeholders, and it fundamentally impacts upon the development projects we work on. We believe positive, healthy people are more likely to think creatively and function productively, leading to job satisfaction and positive outcomes.

But as Mental Health Awareness Week testifies, more can always be done. As professionals within the built environment we need to think more about how new development and the use of land support our health and wellbeing needs and encourages healthy patterns of living and behaviour.

It’s great to see how the promotion of public health objectives by the NHS is leading to exciting partnerships between planners, developers and the NHS to promote healthy communities. It is important to remember that mental wellbeing is not just about healthy activities; it’s about how our environment and spaces make us feel and how they can encourage human interaction which is critical to reduce isolation. These aspects are really important to create a sense of balance in our lives. Successful places often naturally achieve this. The more the dialogue around health and wellbeing is opened up, the more chance there is that our spaces will support our overall health.

Mental Health Awareness week is an important reminder that focusing on our wellbeing is often a win-win situation; leading to greater success personally and professionally.

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/