While May was Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s important to keep the conversation going all year long. The Balanced You Worksite Fund is one way to do just that! This mini-grant program provides funding up to $5,000, per awarded project, to improve health and well-being at your worksite. This is one way to address mental health for you and your colleagues. Applications for the 2019 Worksite Fund must be received by July 3 at 5 p.m.
If you’re working on supporting mental health in your workplace, check out two projects below that were awarded in 2018. We also included sample projects to get you started!
Sheriff’s Office Wellness Room
Employees from the King County Sheriff’s Office Records Unit repurposed an old file and copy room into a wellness room where team members can relax in privacy or gather informally. The new wellness room includes comfortable chairs, a couch, soothing lighting, rug. and artwork that has transformed the room into a place of calm and relaxation. According to one Records Unit employee, “some days I need to be able to close my eyes and ears to all distractions to regain momentum. The wellness room has provided a place to close out the activity of the office and I feel so much better coming back to work. Even a 15-minute break makes all the difference.”
Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Wellness Retreat
Victim Advocates from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office attended a one-day wellness retreat themed “Keeping Your Cup Full.” The retreat included speakers discussing sustaining passion for advocacy, trauma and compassion fatigue, and self-care and resilience building. Victim advocates participated in mindfulness training, created art together, and received self-care bags and journals. Participants shared that the retreat was a great opportunity to build relationships with each other, process difficult parts of their jobs, and learn new skills for resilience in the workplace.
Get Inspired
Examples of projects that improve mental health in the workplace include yoga or meditation classes to help de-stress, fun activities that increase team bonding, wellness rooms to provide quiet space for reflection or rest, and workshops that teach employees skills for processing trauma or managing stress.
Get Ready
Do you have an idea for how to improve health in your workplace? Now is the time to connect with coworkers and brainstorm ways you’d like to create positive change! Applications for the 2019 Worksite Fund must be received by July 3 at 5 p.m.
Get Connected
Contact the Balanced You team at 206-263-9626 or BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov with questions or suggestions. Balanced You staff are also available to provide presentations at your workplace during the Worksite Fund application period. We look forward to hearing from you!