Mental health and wellbeing at Benoni

I came into post as Benoni's Activities & Engagement Lead in February and I am so proud of what we have achieved since then. Supporting residents to tackle perceived barriers to participation, and visit places they've never been to before, is definitely a highlight of the job.

We've developed our offering to include pet therapy, creative wellbeing, singing, movement, meditation, communion, coffee mornings, excursions, and more. We really do offer something for everyone and work hard to ensure that we remain person-centred, encouraging individual development and wellbeing. 

Another part of my role is championing staff wellbeing. A few months ago, I started having one-to-ones with colleagues with the aim of tackling the stigma surrounding mental health conversations and providing support around stress and anxiety. These have been well received and, thanks to recent training funded by Benoni, I am now a qualified Mental Health First Aider and Health and Wellbeing Coach. This means I can recognise when someone is struggling with their mental health and offer non-clinical support. Coaching is another route for staff and residents to explore regarding short and long-term health and wellbeing goals (i.e. stopping smoking, losing weight, increasing mobility, reducing anxiety) and I'm looking forward to putting these new skills into practice.

I created a resource pack on managing stress and anxiety for our recent Wellbeing Day. If you would like a copy, just ask a member of the activities team next time you visit. I also deliver creative wellbeing workshops in the Penzance area when I'm not at Benoni. Visit A Cornish Geek Letters for more information.