“We spend time taking care of our physical health, but nurturing our mental wellbeing is just as crucial,” Vanessa Tan, HT Consulting’s CEO wrote in an internally circulated communication at the beginning of October.
On October 16th, we took a break from our workstations and gathered in the open cafeteria of our office for an interactive mental health event organised in partnership with Re:mind Psychology Center. With upbeat Jazz music playing softly in the background, the team from Re:mind transformed our usual workplace into a mini carnival designed to nourish our minds.
The carnival was thoughtfully designed — rotating us through stations offering everything from personality assessments to counseling sessions and workshops. The overarching goal was to prioritise self-discovery, gain insight into managing stress, and normalise conversations about mental health.
The interactive afternoon kicked off with workshops centered around 2 themes — Mindfulness and Personality Profiling.
At the Mindfulness station, the sounds of colour pencils scratching filled the room as one group colored intricate mandala designs. Another group sat with eyes closed, practicing the meditative ‘wheel of awareness’ guided visualisation. The lively chatter had turned peaceful as we practised to focus on being present.
“I soon forgot all my worries and problems while I sat there colouring,” Serene, one of our senior team leads shared later.
Hopping over to the Personality Profiling station, there were nods of recognition and laughs of surprise as each of us learned about ourselves and of each other. We gained valuable insights into our unique traits through understanding the results of our Enneagram assessment.
After discussing our personality profiles, we headed to the Mental Health Screening station. Counselors provided judgment-free space for us to assess our emotions in 10-minute one-on-one sessions. We learned practical strategies to manage potential depression, anxiety and stress which could be contributing factors in preventing us from being the best version of ourselves.
Our final stop focused on Values Exploration and Conflict Management. Here, we were able to discover our personal priorities and conflict-handling styles. We walked away understanding our needs better and how to communicate them effectively.
As we gathered back together to reflect over a sumptuous spread of Indian food, there was a palpable buzz of positivity. Activities like this remind us that we’re more than our work. When we take time to nourish our mental health, we can show up as better versions of ourselves.
For Vanessa, she hopes that activities like this will continue to establish a psychologically safe environment within our organisation culture.