Green Ribbon

Written by Tiziana Silvestre, Community Development Project Manager, and part of the WELBA committee, ELBA

Since 2017, the Lord Mayor Appeal, in collaboration with a growing number of businesses, has run the Green Ribbon campaign during Mental Health Awareness Week in May.

The initiative is part of the “This Is Me” campaign, a movement that has gained a lot of traction in recent years, aiming to raise awareness and promote acceptance of mental health struggles. The campaign is centred around the idea that individuals should be able to openly express their mental health challenges without fear of judgement or discrimination.

Through the campaign, participants are encouraged to share their stories using the hashtag #ThisIsMe and #EndTheStigma on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. These stories can then inspire others to speak out and seek help for their own struggles with mental health.

On 19 April, UBS hosted the “This Is Me” spring event, gathering business representatives from within London and further afield. The event focused on how to change attitudes around mental health and create healthier and more inclusive workplace and improve employee wellbeing.

This Is Me campaign has been a source of inspiration for those who have struggled with mental health challenges. Seeing others who have gone through similar experiences and have found ways to cope and thrive can be a powerful motivator for those who are still struggling.

ELBA supports the Green Ribbon campaign. ELBA’s internal wellbeing committee for ELBA employees, WELBA, encourage an environment based on the five pillars of wellbeing during and beyond Mental Health Awareness Week:

Connect with other people
Be physically active
Learn new skills
Give to others
Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)

During the UBS event we asked ourselves what steps can be put in place to develop a preventative approach and drive cultural change. Many tools exist: This Is Me Storytelling and the Green Ribbon campaign offer ways of putting in place wellbeing action plans and training. Appointing Mental Health champions is another.

#EndTheStigma
#ThisIsMe
@LMAppeal

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