Supporting colleagues this Brew Monday at Vertas Group

Vertas Group is proud to support Brew Monday, a campaign that turns ‘Blue Monday’ into an opportunity to connect with and support those around us.

January can often feel like a challenging month, with the end of the festive season, shorter days, and the pressures of starting the new year. It’s easy to feel low during this time, but a simple conversation can mean a lot to someone going through a tough time.

At Vertas Group, our Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) support our colleagues year round, encouraging open and meaningful conversations whenever needed. We met with four of them to hear their tips for helping someone open up when something’s up.

Sometimes, starting the conversation is the hardest part, so we asked our MHFAs, “How to reach out to someone?”

Beth Wade, Head of Marketing, said: “In this day and age, it is so easy to get lost behind a screen and bogged down by the to-do list. However, having a chat, even for a few minutes over a cuppa, just breaks up the day! It makes you fill up your social cup, too!

I always love popping down to our break-out space to make a drink and chatting briefly with familiar or new colleagues, finding out about their latest holiday plans or what they got up to at the weekend; I always find out something new and sometimes even learn something. If I perhaps wasn’t as extrovert, I may look at Workvivo, our internal communications platform, to see my colleague network or reach out to someone on Teams to see if they fancied going to grab a coffee if I felt I needed a chat. In summary… don’t stew on your thoughts, share them over a brew!”

Justin Brown, HSQE, Compliance, Governance Manager, said: “We all experience days of low mood and changes in our mental wellbeing, a classic sign of this can be distancing ourselves from conversation and an unwillingness to engage with colleagues.

Identifying these signs and asking a colleague if they fancy going for a tea or coffee for a catch-up can be all that is needed to help lift that person’s spirits. Be sure to find a place that is private with no interruptions. Allow them to share their feelings and experiences without interrupting or judging. Sometimes, just being heard can make a big difference. Check in with them regularly to see how they’re doing and remind them that you’re there for them.”

Once someone starts to share how they’re feeling, it’s so important that people feel listened to. So we asked our MHFAs, “How to be a good listener?”

Nina Whale, Procurement Manager, said: “Starting a meaningful chat begins with being a good listener. It’s all about curiosity and empathy!

First, focus—no distractions, just you and them. Keep your body language open, make eye contact, and don’t jump in with solutions. Let them share and show you’re listening by reflecting on their words. Asking open-ended questions helps to keep things flowing. Be patient, supportive, and nonjudgmental—it’s about making them feel safe and heard. Listening isn’t just kind, it’s how trust grows!”

Steven Ryles, Associate, Concertus Design and Property Consultants, said: “We all go through things big and small, inside and outside of work. We are here and available to listen and support. Just talking about what’s on your mind, no matter what it is, can help. We may not be able to relate to your circumstance, but we can help you by just being a person to get it all off your chest and out your head.”

If you are a colleague struggling and needing extra support, please use WeCare, our support service, which offers 24/7 GP services and counselling.

Alternatively, if you are not a colleague but wish to seek support, the Samaritans offer emotional support 24 hours a day – in full confidence. You can contact them here.

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