CIMSPA backs national survey to benchmark the mental health of the fitness and active leisure workforce
CIMSPA are pleased to announce the launch of a national survey to litmus test mental health at every level of the fitness and active leisure workforce, in association with Workplace Mental Wealth.
We have been working steadily throughout the current pandemic to support our members and the wider workforce but we want to explore the greater effects that mental health has on the workforce in our sector.
The survey, designed and managed by Workplace Mental Wealth, invites anyone, employed or self-employed, working in the fitness and active leisure sector, to complete a short survey exploring their mental health. The survey is available now via a link on the Workplace Mental Wealth website and will be live until mid-February 2021.
“This is the first time, on a sector wide scale, we have ever asked individuals to tell us how they feel and how well they feel supported,” says Tara Dillon, CEO, CIMSPA. “Understandably, the industry’s focus during this pandemic has been on protecting services and jobs, whilst supporting the workforce through this challenging time. As we start to see light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel, we should not lose sight of the effect this pandemic has had and continues to have on the workforce. We need to collectively keep our attention on the mental wellbeing of our workforce and provide relevant support where needed.
“Before the pandemic, it was widely accepted that one in four people experience mental health issues each year. I suspect the pandemic has exacerbated this issue, but there is no evidence of this. This survey will address this. Once we understand the state of mental health in the workforce we can work together to provide the support needed to drive happiness, health and productivity.”
Workplace Mental Wealth has been founded by Katie Lewis, industry consultant and communications specialist, and Lindsey Simpson, cultural change specialist, researcher and mental health first aid instructor.
Katie, says: “Despite the fact that, as an industry, we have shown incredible resilience, strength and determination throughout this pandemic, we are not superhuman. We need to shine a light on mental health and ensure the needs of our workforce are catered for. We are inviting anyone working in, supplying or educating the sector to complete our survey, not just those working at leisure centres and gyms. We are encouraging engagement, sector wide.”
As part of the research, Workplace Mental Wealth will also be surveying employers to establish current cultural and organisational capabilities and provision to support and encourage mental wellbeing in the workplace.
Lindsey adds: “We want to explore employer attitudes towards mental health and their ability to take preventative action, provide support and create environments that support mental wellbeing. Combining insight from the employers’ survey with the findings of the workforce survey will enable us to better understand how well employers are meeting the needs of the workforce.
“Everyone has mental health. We need to create a sector-wide culture that normalises mental health so we can talk freely about it in the way we talk about physical health. We need to be proactive in supporting mental wellbeing and providing support when and where it is required.”
Surveys are now closed. Results are available for download from the Workplace Mental Wealth website.