My reflections as a judge
Abigail East
Founder, Director & Consultant
Effectus People Solutions Limited
It was fascinating, heartening, inspiring and informative.
My reflections as a judge
I was delighted to be asked to be a judge for this year’s This Can Happen Awards and it’s something that I’ve relished and thoroughly enjoyed.
During the shortlisting round I was asked to judge four categories of entries and it was fascinating, heartening, inspiring and informative to understand the breadth and depth of what companies are doing to build positive mental health in the workplace.
Across the categories I judged there were some common themes that struck me:
Storytelling. Increasingly, senior leaders and employees of all levels are speaking up and telling their own stories about their mental health challenges. This takes huge courage and is incredibly powerful in creating trust, awareness, understanding and in normalising conversations on an array of topics.
Innovation. The global pandemic has meant that companies have had to adapt the way they collaborate and interact with their colleagues, and quickly. Organisations have had to prioritise and fast-track the creation of mental health programmes, networks, products and interventions to support their employees through extraordinary and unprecedented times. Entries that really impressed me showed innovation, creativity and a recognition that one size does not fit all in this space.
Technology. Organisations are becoming bolder and braver in the role technology plays in building positive mental health. Among this year’s entries there were some incredible apps, platforms and intranet and internet based offerings and resources, created to raise awareness, provide access to information and offer support for those struggling.
Thank you to This Can Happen for shining a light on those leading the field in this area – inspiring stuff!
Our proud partners
Allen & Overy
Allen & Overy is a global law firm that helps the world’s leading businesses to grow, innovate and thrive. For almost a century, they have built a reputation for their commitment to think ahead and bring original solutions to their clients’ most complex legal and commercial challenges. Allen & Overy has expertise in banking & finance, M&A, litigation, funds, IP, and related business solutions.
Beyond
Beyond is a mental health charity which was formed in 2018 by award winning campaigner Jonny Benjamin MBE. It was created to address the growing need for mental health support for young people. 75% of mental health issues begin in adolescence and yet, according to the NHS, three-quarters of young people who experience mental illness are not receiving treatment. Beyond has so far given out various grants to organisations across the UK who support vulnerable youngsters. The charity is currently developing a nationwide mental health festival for schools called Now and Beyond which will take place in February 2021.
GlaxoSmithKline
GSK is a fully focused biopharma company. They prioritise innovation in vaccines andspecialty medicines, maximising the increasing opportunities to prevent and treat disease. At the heart of this is their R&D focus on the science of the immune system, human genetics and advanced technologies, and their world-leading capabilities in vaccines and medicines development. GSK is focusing on four therapeutic areas: infectious diseases, HIV, oncology, and immunology.
Haleon
Haleon Plc is a British multinational consumer healthcare company and the largest consumer healthcare business in the world. They are 100% focussed on everyday health with theirleading brands being built on science, innovation and human understanding. Haleion exists to deliver better everyday health with humanity.
Mental Health UK
Bringing together the heritage and 50 years’ experience of four charities across the country, Mental Health UK provides support and services for the biggest societal challenges posing a threat to our mental health - we won’t stop until everyone has the tools they need to live their best possible life.
Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a global marketing communications company. They work at the intersection of technology, society, policy and media, adding value to culture — to shape and re-shape it. They do it all – from creative concepting to content development and production, creative technology and user experience design. Their team develop and execute ideas that earn attention and drive business impact.
