By Claire Burgess, Head of Health and Wellbeing, Unipart

On World Mental Health Day, it’s essential that we, as leaders and colleagues, take a moment to pause and reflect on our mental health. At Unipart, we recognise that true excellence begins with the wellbeing and safety of our people. This year, we are proud to champion a “Take Ten” campaign, reinforcing our belief that an investment of just ten minutes can make a genuine and lasting difference.

Even a brief, intentional pause can be powerful. The science is clear: in less than ten minutes, conscious breathing can reduce cortisol levels, a few minutes of movement can release endorphins to boost your mood, and a single positive interaction can raise oxytocin. The aim of Take Ten is to dismantle the psychological barrier of “not having enough time”.

Leadership in creating psychological safety

Our commitment goes far beyond a single campaign. At the core of Unipart’s culture is the principle of psychological safety. We actively encourage open and non-judgemental conversations in the workplace, not only between managers and their teams but peer-to-peer too. We want every colleague to feel safe to bring their whole selves to work and participate fully, knowing they have a seat at the table, a voice, and a guarantee of being heard. We work relentlessly to break down stigma and improve positive mental wellbeing for all.

This doesn’t happen in isolation; we must think holistically about workplace wellbeing in general, and the systemic impact the work environment can have on our mental health. Work should be good for us, helping us to build self-esteem, purpose, and a sense of self-worth, but without the appropriate organisational controls, it can also contribute to causing illness or exacerbating existing conditions.

Healthy high performance

Ultimately, we need to prioritise mental health in the workplace by making it about healthy high performance, never high performance at the expense of our health. This strategic choice is what defines leadership in our sector.

This organisational dedication was independently validated earlier this year when the systems we put in place at Unipart were recognised with a triple five-star audit from the British Safety Council. This assessment confirmed the comprehensive, integrated nature of our approach.

Additionally, the highly visible support structures we offer, such as the volunteer Mental Health First Aider programme we launched during the pandemic, ensure our colleagues always have someone on site to signpost support and resources. This team of committed volunteers ensures that support is always visible and accessible.

Take Ten: The Daily Commitment

True wellbeing begins with self-awareness. When we take the time to understand our own needs, notice our limits, and recognise the early signs of stress, we give ourselves the best chance to protect our mental health and reach out for support before things feel overwhelming.

That’s exactly what the Take Ten campaign – led by our wellbeing partner Everymind at Work – is all about. It’s designed to give you simple, practical tools to pause, reset, and check in with yourself.

We’re encouraging everyone to take a moment to stop and breathe to choose one small action and give just ten minutes (or less) to it:

Take 10 to breathe: Practice deep, conscious breathing
Take 10 to reflect: Write down 3 things you’re grateful for.
Take 10 to listen to music: Get those headphones on.
Take 10 to be kind: Do something thoughtful.
Take 10 to meditate: Try a guided meditation exercise.
Take 10 to connect: Reach out to a loved one.
Take 10 to get outside: Step outside and notice.
Take 10 to challenge your brain: Get that brain ticking.
Take 10 to rest: Prioritise the type of rest you need.
Take 10 to move: Make a small change to move more.

By taking ten minutes, whether challenging our brain with a puzzle or simply reflecting, we can regulate our nervous system, boost our optimism, and reduce our stress.

While we are incredibly proud of our progress, we recognise that we are still learning and don’t have all the answers. Our commitment to evolving and strengthening the support we provide to every colleague is unwavering.