Working in the Health, Wellbeing and DEI sector can be challenging and emotionally draining, which is why it’s really important to celebrate all your wins along the way.
“That’s something I don’t think DEI does well, in general, and something I work hard on specifically in our Trust,” says Hasan Reza, Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Kent Community NHS Foundation Trust. “Wherever we’ve achieved something, we try and make sure that our people know what we’ve done, however big or small, because you need to tell the good news story.”
Perhaps those Wellbeing professionals that don’t already do this, can add it to their list of resolutions for 2025?
In the meantime, as we wrap up the year, this seems the perfect time for Make A Difference Media to reflect on the industry’s achievements.
Achievement: Continuing to reduce stigma
Building on the success of recent years, “2024 saw substantial progress in reducing stigma around mental health and conversations around mental health became even more normalised, especially in workplace settings,” says MHFA England Chief Executive, Sarah McIntosh.
MHFA saw evidence of this when it launched its Association of Mental Health First Aiders in June; 91% of MHFAiders interviewed felt they were transforming the way society talks about and supports mental health, with 54% using the skills they have learnt more than once a week.
As we pointed out in this feature, there’s still a long way to go but it’s also important to look back at how far we have come.
Achievement: Embracing of new technology
Technology is evolving at a rapid pace and the industry is open to it, and experimenting with it, from telehealth to digital wellness platforms to AI.
“More people accessed tools and resources conveniently and effectively,” says McIntosh. “This was particularly impactful in providing support to remote or underserved communities.”
Embracing tech has been a particular game changer in the financial wellbeing sector, according to Octopus Money Chief Executive Ruth Handcock:
“New digital tools and platforms are enabling personalised advice to be more accessible, particularly for underserved groups who previously lacked access to traditional financial services.”
McIntosh adds that one of the more surprising developments in 2024 was the rapid adoption and integration of AI-driven tools for mental health and wellbeing support.
“From AI chatbots providing real-time mental health advice to predictive analytics helping employers identify workforce wellbeing risks, these tools have become mainstream much faster than anticipated,” she says.
Achievement: Moving the conversation forward on Financial Wellbeing
“The conversation on financial wellbeing has really moved forwards this year – perhaps inevitably given the cost of living challenges faced by so many employees – but I hear of so many workplaces now actively putting in various levels of advice and support for employees, whether that’s through their employee benefits, via wellbeing communications or training,” says Dr Judith Grant, Workplace Wellbeing Strategist and Director of The Wellbeing Exchange.
For some, like Sharron Moffatt, MHFA Instructor and Cancer Awareness Ambassador, this “big focus” was surprising, too, but credit must be given to the industry for “really stepping up” when it was needed.
For others, like Billingham-Mohamed, the fact there was so much more nuance around specific pillars of wellbeing, like financial, was a step in the right direction:
“I think an achievement is that discussions around wellbeing are getting less and less focused on a singular aspect of wellbeing and moving towards a more holistic approach, knowing that we are whole people and nuanced! We need to constantly evolve to think of support for the whole person.”
Achievement: Gaining government interest
As Former MP and Mental Health campaigner Luciana Berger said in her closing session at MAD World, the shift to preventative healthcare is well and truly on the new Labour government’s agenda.
And there are positive signs of action, as well as words, too. For instance, as Nadin says, the UK has now established the first Policy Liason Group for Workplace Wellbeing.
“The new government clearly sees the way to a more prosperous country is in part, through the workplace,” he says. “The new ‘Get Britain Working’ white paper is a welcome boost and a clear indication of the role the government sees for employers in making the country healthier.”
Achievement: the C-Suite is talking about Wellbeing more
“Wellbeing has always been on the agenda for HR teams, but it really feels like those in C-Suite roles are talking about the importance of wellbeing much more now,” says Jackie Buttery, Head of Benefits and Reward, Human Resources, Travers Smith.
That mindset shift has not happened overnight, she says but “at last it does feel like there is some momentum behind wellbeing efforts and substantive progress being made”.
As she rightly points out, impact in Health and Wellbeing doesn’t always require money, sometimes the most impactful thing to happen is a “senior leader standing up and vocalising the importance of looking after oneself and colleagues”.
Achievement: Acknowledgement of the relationship between Health & Wellbeing, Engagement and Productivity
“Economists are commenting regularly on how the health of people in work is affecting growth and productivity,” says Dame Carol Black.
She cites A. Haldane, previous Chief Economist at the Bank of England, saying in the FT last year that there is: “Clear evidence, for the first time since the industrial revolution, of poor health detracting from both growth and wellbeing.”
Historically, economists usually talk about how growth and productivity depend on changing processes and structures and implementing technical innovation, “never really believing that health made a big difference”. However, the soaring figures on chronic ill health, both physical and mental in the workplace, make the interrelated nature of the three clearer than ever.
Achievement: Workplaces have become more compassionate
Again, Dame Carol identifies this as an emerging trend saying: “I’ve seen more large organisations become more compassionate, thinking carefully about empathetic leadership, psychological safety and enabling employees to speak up if they don’t feel they are in a healthy place, mentally or physically.”
Although, of course, while there is progress there are still many workplaces that have a long way to go in terms of creating more compassionate workplaces.
Achievement: Recognition of importance of belonging
Many industry experts, like Smart About Health’s Head of Strategy and Operations Sarah Restall cite the growing recognition of ‘belonging’ as a success story this year. The word has been creeping into meetings as well as job titles more and more.
According to Restall, organisations that focused on creating cultures of belonging reported improved employee confidence, productivity, and retention.
The success has often been driven by ERG activity which she describes as “catalysts for change” if given enough resources to thrive and create a culture where employees genuinely feel they can bring their ‘whole self’ (a continuing trend) to work.
“The progress in this area demonstrated that belonging is not just a ‘soft’ concept—it’s a vital pillar of organisational success,” she says. “When employees feel they belong, they are more likely to engage, innovate, and contribute to the organisation’s goals.”
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