Ideas and activities

Here are a few ideas and activities to get you started on, to promote mental health awareness:

• Set up a puzzle in the main office or lunchroom (with a sign saying, “Stress Relief Corner/Table”) that everyone could work on.
• Have a potluck, where along with food, everyone also has to share a quote or message about mental health.
• Play “secret message”, where everyone puts their name in a bowl; the names are mixed up, and everyone picks a name. They then must write something they like about the individual whose name they got, and deliver it to them anonymously.
• Play “inspirational exchange”: all you need is a bowl, paper and pen. The bowl will consist of positive/inspirational messages. Anyone who walks past it must take a message and write/add one to the bowl before they leave.
• Forward videos about mental health to all employees or watch them together during a staff lunch or meeting. These could consist of ted talks, short films, or spoken word poetry. Listed below are some great videos to watch:

• This Video
• University of Waterloo Mental Health Wellness
• Mental Health Awareness 2018 - Depression Isn't Obvious
• Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace at Waterloo
• Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
• Working Through It. Stories of reclaiming well-being at work, off work and returning to work.

Still looking for more ideas? Check out the Bell Let's Talk tool kit.