Doing good does you good
Wednesday was World Kindness Day, an international observance first launched 21 years ago by The World Kindness Movement.
World Kindness Day is celebrated annually on 13 November, with the aim of making the world a better place by celebrating and promoting good deeds and acts of kindness in day-to-day life.
In a world where political mudslinging and rising violent crime statistics seem to dominate the headlines and tragic tales of people affected by the devastating effects of climate change are impossible to ignore, sometimes it can be worth remembering the capacity for love and generosity that each of us possesses to renew your faith in humanity.
The theme for this year's World Kindness Day was empathy and encouraging people to better understand ‘the pains of others.’
From selflessly giving to the homeless person you spot on your commute into work to honouring fallen heroes on Remembrance Day, acts of kindness don't have to be grand gestures. Showing someone that you care could be as small as making a colleague a cup of tea or simply wishing them a good day.
Evidence shows that helping others can have a positive effect on your own mental health and wellbeing. In a recent BBC article, Doctor Kelli Harding from Columbia University in the United States, explained why being kind could help you live longer.
‘It helps the immune system, blood pressure, it helps people to live longer and better,’ she said. ‘It's pretty amazing because there's an ample supply and you can't overdose on it. There's a free supply. It's right there.
‘There are so many ways to foster kindness to ourselves and to others. In the workplace, at school and at home, being compassionate leads to better outcomes. In medicine, the technology may be getting better, but you can never replicate the kindness of a supportive caregiver. The connection between mental health and physical health is so critical.’
Help is at hand
If you need help with your mental health, please speak to somebody about it. Remember, the ‘First Class Support’ helpline is available by calling 0800 688 8777 for direct access to counselling services as well as to receive financial, relationship or legal advice. The helpline is fully confidential and available 24/7.
Colleagues can also visit www.rmgfirstclasssupport.co.uk to access hundreds of articles providing practical, impartial and up to date information on a wide range of topics. The website is supported by a team of professional advisors, who are available around the clock.
Go to the Feeling First Class portal (log-in or register with the code FFC1) and complete the mental health eLearning ‘Because Healthy Minds Matter’. You can also access helpful mental and physical health support content and complete the online stress tool.
Feeling First Class is available via www.feelingfirstclass.co.uk. You can also download the app from both iTunes and the Google Play store.
Click here to download our Because Healthy Minds Matter list of support resources available to all colleagues and here for more information on achieving good mental health for all.
