The bWell Podcast from Unum UK

Episode 32 – Managing my mental health

Join our team of wellbeing experts made up of psychologists, occupational therapists and exercise and ergonomics experts to hear about everyday tips to manage mental your health.

The importance of taking a holistic approach to your health, looking at taming those intrusive thoughts, exercise, mindfulness, journalling and other actions we can all take to look after our own mental health and the mental health of others. 

Our wellbeing experts will also talk through what resources are available, such as mental health support from our award-winning health and wellbeing app Help@hand.*

 

^{* Help@hand is provided to Unum Group customers by Square Health. It offers access to services designed to manage the health and wellbeing of employees and their families. Help@hand is entirely separate from any Unum insurance policy. Help@hand is not part of the insurance contract, is provided by Unum for no additional cost to its customers, and Unum can withdraw or change the service in the future. Help@hand is available to UK residents only. Unum offers access to the Help@hand services provided by third parties. Square Health Limited, registered in England and Wales Number 07054181. Crown House, William Street, Windsor SL4 1AT.}

Episode 31– Wine not…

We’ve recorded this podcast with the experts at Square Health who provide our health and wellbeing app Help@hand^* to shine a light on the impact alcohol can have on individuals and wider society.

Alcohol can impact so much of our life. For many people, alcohol might play a key part in how they have fun and socialise — but it can also have detrimental effects the following day (or even the following week!).

This podcast covers the rise of the ‘sober curious’ lifestyle — where people start to question the impact alcohol is having on their lives and the people around them and look with curiosity at what’s fuelling the desire to drink. This may lead to them avoiding alcohol for personal or wellness reasons. This podcast explores how we can make changes to our alcohol habits.

^{* Help@hand is provided to Unum Group customers by Square Health. It offers access to services designed to manage the health and wellbeing of employees and their families. Help@hand is entirely separate from any Unum insurance policy. Help@hand is not part of the insurance contract, is provided by Unum for no additional cost to its customers, and Unum can withdraw or change the service in the future. Help@hand is available to UK residents only. Unum offers access to the Help@hand services provided by third parties. Square Health Limited, registered in England and Wales Number 07054181. Crown House, William Street, Windsor SL4 1AT.}

Episode 30 – Lifestyle coaching

Our guest for this podcast is lifestyle coach Sam Beckinsale. She’ll discuss the importance of continuous improvement.

We’re launching new and enhanced services for our health and wellbeing app Help@hand,^[1] coming April 3^rd. One new addition gives employees the opportunity to take four short assessments to get their 360 Wellbeing Score. In turn, this unlocks six sessions of lifestyle coaching per year, all delivered on a 1-2-1 basis via video.

Our bWell podcast host — Unum’s award-winning Wellbeing and Customer Experience Operations Manager Beth Husted — was lucky to get a sneak preview of the lifestyle coaching before the announcement. During this podcast, Beth shares her experience and talks with Sam about the process of accessing the lifestyle support, which also includes personal training and nutrition consultations.^[2]

We cover the importance of just getting started and how, although it may never be the ‘perfect’ time to make those 1% changes, they play such a vital role in your health and wellbeing that they’re essentials, not luxuries. Instead of focusing on perfection, the podcast encourages you to focus on your progress.

[1] Help@hand is provided to Unum Group customers by Square Health. It offers access to services designed to manage the health and wellbeing of employees and their families. Help@hand is entirely separate from any Unum insurance policy. Help@hand is not part of the insurance contract, is provided by Unum for no additional cost to its customers, and Unum can withdraw or change the service in the future. Help@hand is available to UK residents only. Unum offers access to the Help@hand services provided by third parties. Square Health Limited, registered in England and Wales Number 07054181. Crown House, William Street, Windsor SL4 1AT.

[2] Personal training and nutrition consultations for employees insured by a Unum Group Income Protection policy only.

Podcast 29 - “Where are you really from?”

This podcast takes a look at race and diversity in the workplace. We examine the importance of ensuring people of colour feel seen, included and equally valued.

The most important place to start is listening — listening to and learning from the lived experience of people who may have experienced not only overt acts of racism but also smaller microaggressions. Microaggressions may not always be intentional, but they often occur more frequently. Their cumulative effect risks creating an environment that’s more challenging for people of colour.

We use this podcast to cover positive actions to take to combat racism in all its forms — both subtle and explicit — to help everyone live and work in a better world.

Episode 28 - Managing my menopause

Menopause is a natural process. It usually happens as people grow older, but also potentially suddenly, as a result of surgery, chemotherapy or other medical treatments. Yet despite it usually being a natural process, some may have a hard time because of how their hormone levels change.

Joining us in this podcast to discuss the impact of menopause are online fitness coach and personal trainer Natasha Evans and nutritional therapist and naturopath Tanya Clarke from Get Me Fit.

We’ll talk about lifestyle management, taking a holistic approach and tangible steps you can implement to help yourself before or during the perimenopause and menopause.

 

Episode 27 – Toxic masculinity and gender stereotypes

Men’s Health Week isn’t just about physical health. Men have mental health too, and it not being ‘macho’ to admit they are struggling is a big problem.

Men accounted for 75% of people who sadly took their own lives in England in 2020.¹ In 2018, men aged 20-34 were more than 3 times as likely to lose their lives to suicide than in vehicle accidents.²

We must do more than say it’s time for men to talk; we need to make it so men feel they can talk. This podcast looks at toxic masculinity and gender stereotypes and the considerable impact this is having on men’s health.

Podcast 26 – Best Fit Forward

We’re joined by two qualified fitness instructors, who explain that you don’t suddenly need to start running marathons to get fit. Small, incremental changes can make a big difference.

We’re so pleased to partner with GetMeFit for this podcast. They’ve kindly let us borrow the wisdom of their fitness gurus Cat Benger, a personal trainer and APPI-qualified Pilates Instructor, and personal trainer and podcast host Natasha Evans.¹

Cat and Natasha discuss how getting fit shouldn’t feel inaccessible or scary, talking through how small incremental changes to lifestyle and habits can have huge impact on your physical and mental health and wellbeing

Podcast 25 - Burnout, distress and fatigue

Burnout, stress and fatigue are very real risks when you fail to prioritise your wellbeing. This podcast offers tips to combat these issues.

Too often we deprioritise our wellbeing because of external pressures, whether that’s work, family or other commitments. Failing to look after and nourish our wellbeing puts you at a higher risk of burnout. Prioritising our wellbeing is important, so pop on the Unum podcast to discover the importance of taking time to put you first.

Podcast 24 – Being a woman in the workplace

For International Women’s Day, check out this podcast packed full of successful working women who join us to share their experiences, successes and challenges and give some welcome inspirational advice.

Podcast 23 - Healthy living, healthy life

In this podcast, registered nurse Emma Squire joins us to discuss how making small, healthy changes to your life today can improve your health and wellbeing over the long-term. We also cover how simple changes can improve health risk management.