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Mental Health Awareness Week #MHAW17

This week is crucial to promoting mental health. Whilst breaking the stigma of mental health, the aim is to educate people on what exactly mental health is and the issues people can face. With 1 in 4 people in the UK experiencing a mental health problem each year, we can no longer ignore that people face struggles that are not always obvious from the outside.

The Mental Health Foundation

The UK is moving towards greater support for people facing mental health issues and a pro-active stance on tackling the current barriers faced. The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) is key in driving the agenda for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week. Shearman & Sterling LLP support the approach the MHF is taking, looking at mental health from a different angle by trying to further understand why too few of us are thriving with good mental health.

Shearman & Sterling LLP & The Green Ribbon Campaign

Shearman & Sterling LLP is proud to be part of Mental Health Awareness Week. We understand the importance of ensuring our employees have the support available to ensure they can thrive both in and out of work. Alongside the government’s ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ initiative to encourage overall positive wellbeing, we have a full programme of events taking place with the aim of breaking down the stigma of mental health issues, creating a culture where our employees can speak up and find the help they may need in a safe and confidential environment.

We are also all wearing our green ribbons as part of ‘The Green Ribbon Campaign’ – helping to end the stigma of mental health. By wearing our ribbons we aim to show those experiencing mental health issues that there is support and they are not alone. Shearman & Sterling LLP also aims to demonstrate the level of support there is for this issue within our Firm, encouraging our employees to communicate further and reach out when help is needed.

Let’s not forget that his week we should also look to celebrate! Celebrate the people that have reached out for help and managed to get their lives back on track. Celebrate the person that can now see a whole world out there waiting for them. Before you judge, perhaps take a step back and a moment to think. The loudest and most vibrant person in the room may be the person most struggling inside.

#MHAW17