As part of EuropeActive’s commitment to promote and safeguard an inclusive and welcoming environment for all across the fitness and physical activity ecosystem, and as part of EuropeActive’s Inclusion calendar, we are thrilled to promote the fourth edition of European Mental Health Week, 22-28 May 2023. This is further correlated with our European activities as it falls under our awareness-raising activities for our #HealthyLifestyle4All pledge.
D&I & Wellbeing Lead at The Gym Group (TGG), Rachel Shinn, agreed to share some further insight with us about how TGG addresses mental health and wellbeing for both their clients and staff:
‘At The Gym Group, wellbeing is a key part of our strategic sustainability priorities, both in our founding mission to break down barriers with affordable access to fitness and in how we support the wellbeing of our employees. Our sustainability governance framework demonstrates our commitment to this and how we integrate health and wellbeing into the heart of our business decisions.
For our employees we understand that wellbeing goes beyond physical health, and we are committed to providing a holistic approach to mental health that accounts for the diverse factors that could impact our team’s happiness and health – whether that’s social, financial, emotional, or physical. We have implemented wellbeing principles that focus on Leadership, Prevention, Intervention and Development. Alongside providing our teams with access to a range of mental health resources, counselling, and self-guided therapeutic services, we also provide our leaders with the skills and knowledge to support their teams and lead with a wellness mindset. Our LeadWell and Mental Health Ambassador development programmes have helped us to achieve this and contribute to creating an environment where people feel supported and comfortable discussing any wellbeing challenges they may be facing.
As D&I and Wellbeing lead, I feel passionately about continuing to break down the stigma associated with mental health and ensure we have the right resources, services, and interventions so our employees are supported and able to bring their whole selves to work. The pandemic has also underlined the importance of exercise for our physical and mental health, and we’ll continue to focus on providing inclusive and welcoming gym spaces so that more members can benefit from the positive impact exercise can have on their wellbeing.’
To go further:
- See The Gym Group’s latest sustainability report.