More than 41,000 patients have received support for healthier lifestyles through a new NHS programme in East Suffolk and North Essex. The Making Every Contact Count initiative has already helped thousands quit smoking and improve their diet.
Why it matters: The programme aims to tackle health inequalities between deprived and affluent areas in the region. In central Ipswich and Tendring, residents are more likely to be obese, smoke, and require emergency hospital care compared to areas like Framlingham and Great Bentley.
The big picture: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) staff are using routine patient interactions, such as outpatient appointments, to offer lifestyle support and referrals to specialist services.
The Making Every Contact Count initiative has already helped thousands quit smoking and improve their diet at Ipswich HospitalOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk
By the numbers:
6,500 patients have been referred to support services
More than half of hospital inpatients referred to stop smoking services have successfully quit
23.8% of people in the most deprived areas smoke, compared to 6.8% in least deprived areas
Adult obesity rates are 2.4 times higher in most deprived areas
What they're doing: The trust has launched several targeted projects including:
A 20-week healthy eating programme for children called 'Nourish'
Inpatient stop smoking services at Ipswich hospital
Picture menus on hospital wards to encourage healthy eating
What they're saying: Sally Barber, associate director for health inequalities at ESNEFT, said: "Figures show that there is a significant difference in the quality of life experienced by people in our most deprived areas compared with that enjoyed by those in the least. Tackling health inequalities is therefore a priority for ESNEFT as we want to make sure that everyone gets the same opportunities and access to health and wellbeing support, regardless of where they live."
Bottom line: The trust plans to make the programme "business as usual" for its teams to help even more people improve their health and wellbeing in the future.
On the International Day of Happiness, local happiness coach and published author Samantha Brook explains how workplace wellbeing can boost productivity and why investing in employee happiness offers significant returns for businesses.
"Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of the employees, they will take care of the clients," Richard Branson famously said.
An independent study on the cost of mental health to employers, commissioned from Deloitte found that the annual cost to employers is between £33 billion and £42 billion. The study also found that investing in employees' mental health could see a return on investment of nearly £10 for each £1 spent.
Happiness at work has never been more important. World affairs are all taking their toll on people's mental health. It can be challenging for anyone to stay positive under such circumstances.
In recent years, employers have started to wake up to the importance of looking after their employees' mental health. I have heard a number of very sad stories where firms have lost employees to suicide. Although many firms are starting to take their employees' mental health more seriously, it is still often merely a tick box exercise.
Happy employees will be more productive and engaged. They will take less time off sick, and they are less likely to look for another job.
In recent years, employers have started to wake up to the importance of looking after their employees' mental healthJud MackrillUnsplash
Mental health first aid training at work
It is great that so many firms have embraced Mental Health First Aid training. I see mental health first aid training as a great way to help employees who are suffering with mental health at work. Happiness Club will help you and your employees to prevent having those mental health issues in the first place.
If you, or your employees, use the Happiness Club techniques you will find that you will generally be happier on a more consistent basis. You might still have mental health problems sometimes, I certainly do, but those times will be much less frequent, and they will pass a lot quicker.
Tips for improved happiness at work
Watch out for signs of declining happiness at work
If you or your employees are experiencing sleep problems or changes in appetite, that could indicate a risk of worsening mental health. Other signs could include behavioural changes, poor hygiene, or feeling hopeless. If you notice an employee, a colleague, or even a fellow business owner is displaying any of these signs, reach out to them. A friendly face or a listening ear might make all the difference.
Ask for help
If you are worried about your own mental health, you might find it useful to reach out to a friend or colleague. It can be helpful to vent or talk things through.
Have a contingency plan
If you know that you are at risk of feeling stressed or overwhelmed, it can be helpful to have a written contingency plan that you can fall back on next time you're feeling like that. This could include mindfulness practices, breathing exercises, tapping, affirmations, taking a break, or getting outside for some fresh air.
Follow a happiness routine
Following a Happiness routine that includes gratitude, meditation, journalling, getting outside, and a healthy lifestyle is a great way to achieve consistent and sustainable happiness. One of the things that helps me to maintain stable mental health and happiness is to have a Happiness Routine. Having a routine helps me to manage symptoms of ADHD and depression.
I used to be allergic to discipline, but then I realised that discipline and routine are key to freedom, success, and happiness. Four things to note, which I cannot emphasise enough, are to start slowly, be flexible, be gentle with yourself if you miss a day, and find ways to make it easy, enjoyable and fit it into your life.
I pack a hell of a lot into my Happiness Routine, but I have been building this up for years. Start by adding one thing at a time and do it for a minimum of 21 days before adding something else.
If it feels overwhelming, try something else or find a way to make it easier. My Happiness Routine is what happens on a good day, and I rarely manage the whole lot. Sometimes I do not manage any of it! And that is okay.
When I first started introducing healthy habits, I used to really beat myself up if I missed a day. After a while I realised it was okay if I missed a day and I redetermined for tomorrow. If we are not careful a routine that we create for happiness can become just another stick to beat ourselves up with.
As Daisaku Ikeda, President of the SGI, (the Buddhist organisation I belong to) says, "If you failed yesterday, strive to win today. If you were defeated today, strive to win tomorrow."- From The New Human Revolution.
Stick to your allocated work hours, try and avoid burnoutJonas LeupeUnsplash
Stick to your allocated work hours
You might think you will be more productive by working in the evenings and weekends, but you will get burnt out and end up having to take time off sick. Lead by example. If you work evenings and weekends, your employees will think it is expected of them, and then they will end up getting burnt out.
Take a break
It is important to take a break from your desk at regular intervals throughout the day. It is also important to leave your desk at lunchtime. Get outside, go for a walk, or go and read a book in a coffee shop. Again, this will help you to be more productive and if you are a manager, lead by example.
Set a goal for the day
At the beginning of each day, think about what you would like to achieve and set a goal. Write the goal down as if it is the end of the day and you have already achieved it.
For example,
It is 20 March 2025, and I have closed a sale.
Or it is 20 March 2025, and I have ticked five things off my to do list.
Or it is 20 March 2025, and I have completed a piece of work.
The next day review if you have achieved your goal and if you have not, reflect on why that is and what you could have done differently. It might be that something else came up, or that you achieved something even better! Again, it is important to do this without beating yourself up.
Have a budget for happiness at work
It is important to have a budget for your own wellbeing as well as your employees' wellbeing. I have already mentioned that for every £1 spent on employees' mental health, the return on investment is nearly £10. You can spend that budget on healthy and enjoyable activities.
Love of Beauty offer relaxing therapies at their salon and healing room, as well as at your place of work, and in the comfort of your own home. Grow My Wellbeing offer office plant installations and workshops for you or your employees.
As you can see, your mental health and your employees' mental health should be a priority. Investing in mental health encourages a positive work environment and creates significant financial returns. The various tips and tricks I have shared, such as maintaining a Happiness routine, and taking regular breaks, are essential steps towards achieving consistent and sustainable happiness at work.
By prioritising mental health, you and your employees can be more productive, engaged, and satisfied which will ultimately lead to better overall business outcomes.
