Julie Hughes - Mental Health Awareness Week – The importance of community.

‘My happy place’; a phrase we often hear at RBC when we speak to guests and park home owners on the numerous holiday parks we have the pleasure of working with. 

So why is this? What is it that makes it ‘happy’? 

Holiday parks by their very nature offer a ‘getaway’ from the daily grind, a place where rest and relaxation are promoted, a community where people come together and where a person’s mental health can be recharged and improved.

In a country where 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety or depression) in any given week (source: Mind) building communities where people feel safe, supported and connected brings true value. Which is why so many holiday makers go on to buy holiday homes; that continued feeling of calmness and relaxation, within a community where they feel connected. The ability to return to this environment week after week, or even just every other weekend can increase the sense of belonging and reduce feelings of anxiety. Some individuals seek out this feeling permanently, purchasing on residential parks!

Whilst the location can, in itself, support mental health, park employees play a significant part in its ongoing improvement. Greeting guests with a hello and a smile, engaging in conversation, taking the time to listen and being positive are all points that cost nothing to implement but bring huge value to the business, and the individual on the receiving end. 

The parks that do this best, are those focused on supporting the mental wellbeing of their own team, by building and developing their own internal community. One where discussions around mental health are promoted rather than frowned upon and where the team really do ‘look out for each other’. 

A workplace where employees have a common goal, feel a sense of belonging, valued, trusted, fulfilled, listened to, able to collaborate, with the support to learn and grow. A community that employees want to be a part of, where morale and retention are high.

Many organisations talk about their values and beliefs, however companies will miss a trick if they focus solely on improving ‘organisational culture’ when the employees are actually looking for the feeling and connection that comes from their ‘workplace community’. 

If you want to find out more about supporting the mental wellbeing of your team, get in touch now at Julie.hughes@ruthbadger.com