Reflecting on mental wellbeing

Loneliness has been heightened over the past 12 months and sadly suicide rates are rising across the country. Suicide is the most common cause of death for men in Britain ages 20 - 49 and one in four people are affected by mental health issues at some point in their life - the pandemic is exacerbating this for many.

To encourage reflection on mental health and wellbeing, award-winning theatre and digital art company ZU-UK are offering the opportunity for people to remember and gather through their project Pick Me Up (& hold me tight) as part of Leeds’ Compass Festival.

This audio installation invites contemplation about the relationship between mental health and modern life through a collective listening experience.

Every phone box across Leeds will ring at the same time every day between 19th and 28th March. Those who pick up the phone will be taken on a gentle but thought-provoking audio journey exploring loneliness in modern day. The experience intends to expose the edges of our humanness, encouraging us to pause, take stock and explore what kind of listeners we are.

The past 12 months has taken its toll on everyone and, according to new research by Canada Life, there is a strong demand from employees for more health and wellbeing support.

Across our business, we’re seeing our colleagues looking for more practical, meaningful lifestyle benefits that help them to improve their wellbeing. So, we’ve developed our wellbeing strategy to focus on “positive feelings, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment.”

We want to keep our colleagues feeling happy, healthy and productive through education, support and initiatives that help them to improve every aspect of their wellbeing. As a business, we have a responsibility to create working environments that ensure all of our colleagues can thrive every day.