Monthly Health and Wellbeing Focus - 2024 | East Dunbartonshire Council

On this page you will find information on:

National Walking Month (1-31)

#WALKTHISMAY #MagicOfWalking

May is Living Streets’ National Walking Month. This year, Living Streets’ is encouraging you to discover the #MagicOfWalking and celebrate the many health and happiness benefits of walking and wheeling. Walking is one of the easiest ways to improve our health and stay connected to our community, helping us feel less lonely and isolated. By swapping a short drive for a short walk, you can also help reduce air pollution, congestion and road danger – whilst saving yourself some money and getting active in the process! To find out more about #MagicOfWalking and explore the resources visit the Living Streets' website [opens in a new window]

Awaiting update from living streets to see if campaign is on for 2024

Sun Awareness Week (6-12)

Sun Awareness Week is the start to the British Association of Dermatologist summer of sun awareness campaign and raises awareness around sun protection and skin cancer. Sun Awareness is vital as skin cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, and rates continue to rise. This year’s campaign focus will be around raising awareness of non-melanoma skin cancer and best practices for people to check their skin for this very common type of skin cancer. To find out more visit the British Association of Dermatologists website [opens in a new window]

Look out for our EDC Summer Safety 2024 booklet due out in June 2024.

Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19)

#MomentsForMovement

Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event when there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. This year’s theme is Movement.

Movement is important for our mental health. Many of us struggle to move enough. There are many different reasons for this, so this Mental Health awareness week the campaign will promote helping people to find moments for movement in their daily routines including going for a walk in your neighbourhood, putting on your favourite music and dancing round the living room, chair exercises when you are watching television – it all counts! To find out more or get involved visit the Mental Health Foundation website [opens in a new window]

TimeForTalking App

Time for Talking Counselling service also has a Counselling & Psychological Wellbeing app that delivers support for individuals, couples, and families to make counselling easier and more accessible. The app is packed with resources on a number of topics.

How to Get it?

Type TimeForTalking (no spaces) in the App store or Google Play/Android.

Time for Talking ‘Wellbeing Times’ May 2024's Newsletter

Our employee assistance programme provider have a monthly Wellbeing Times newsletter which includes fitness tips, recipes, helps with setting monthly goals and a daily journal – take a look by visiting the Time for Talking website [opens in a new window]

Further support around employee wellbeing can be accessed via the EDC Employee Assistance Programme – Time for Talking counselling service

Further information can be found in the Wellbeing section of the Employee Zone website

March 2024

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (1-31)
#OCAM
March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (OCAM) – and a great opportunity to spread the word about a much overlooked disease and communicate how Ovarian Cancer Action are funding world-class research in order to find better, kinder treatments for a woman facing a diagnosis today, or to prevent the disease for the next generation of women. To find out more including the symptoms of ovarian cancer visit the Ovarian Cancer Awareness webpage [opens in a new window].

National No Smoking Day (13)
The first No Smoking Day was on Ash Wednesday in 1984 and is now an annual health awareness day which takes place on the second Wednesday in March. The aim or the day is to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and to encourage people to quit. The day is designed to reach out to friends or family members who suffer nicotine addiction. Smoking is one of the biggest preventable causes of premature death. To learn more on the benefits of quitting smoking and accessing support to stop smoking is available on the NHS Inform website [opens in a new window] and Quit Your Way Scotland [opens in a new window]

The Council’s Smoking Policy can be found on the Council’s Polices and Procedures webpage.

The Council is committed to promoting healthy living and non-smoking as its normal culture by establishing a smoke-free environment for all employees and being sensitive to the needs of those who smoke by offering support to those wishing to give up smoking.

World Sleep Day (15)
World Sleep Day ‘Sleep Equity for Global Health’
#WorldSleepDay is an annual event to raise awareness about the importance of sleep for achieving an optimal quality of life and improve global health. For more information and tips to achieve a healthy sleep click on the links:

TimeForTalking App

How to Get it?
Type TimeForTalking (no spaces) in the App store or Google Play/Android.

Time for Talking ‘Wellbeing Times’ March 2024's Newsletter
Our employee assistance programme provider have a monthly Wellbeing Times newsletter which includes fitness tips, recipes, helps with setting monthly goals and a daily journal – take a look by visiting time for talking website. [opens in a new window].

Further support around employee wellbeing can be accessed via the EDC Employee Assistance Programme – Time for Talking counselling service on the hub.

February 2024

Time to Talk Day (1)
‘Hey! How’s it going?’ Sometimes means I’m here if you want to talk
Have a conversation about mental health

Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. Happening every year, it’s a day from friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives. We know the more conversations we have, the better life is for everyone. Talking about mental health isn’t always easy, but a conversation has the power to change lives. For more information or for ideas on how to take part in Time to Talk Day from hosting a lunch to simply sharing information on social media or texting a friend visit the Time to Talk Day website.

Need support? Call 116 123 to speak to a Samaritan

Further support around employee wellbeing can be accessed via the EDC Employee Assistance Programme – Time for Talking counselling service

Further information can be found in the Wellbeing section of the Employee Zone.

World Cancer Day (4)
#WorldCancerDay #CloseTheCareGap

Create a future without cancer. The time to act is now. Never underestimate the power of co-operation and collective action to save lives. What will you do on 4 February? Speak up, stand up and take action together this World Cancer Day. To take part or find out more visit the World Cancer Day website.

TimeForTalking App

How to Get it?

Type TimeForTalking (no spaces) in the App store or Google Play/Android.

Time for Talking ‘Wellbeing Times’ February 2024's Newsletter

Further support around employee wellbeing can be accessed via the EDC Employee Assistance Programme – Time for Talking counselling service

January 2024

Dry January (1-31)

Dry January is the UK’s one month alcohol-free challenge. It isn’t about giving anything up. It’s about getting something back. Get your fun back. Get your energy back. Get your calm back. Get your YOU back. To take part or find out more visit the Alcohol Change Website

Love Your Liver

Lover Your Liver is the British Liver Trust’s national awareness campaign to liver health awareness and giving people the key steps needed to keep their liver healthy. For more information or to participate in the free online screener.

East Dunbartonshire Councils Drug, Alcohol and Substance Misuse Policy and associated toolkit can be found on the Employee Zone. For more information visit Policies and Procedures Webpage

Brew Monday (15)

This Brew Monday, Samaritans is reminding everyone to reach out for a cuppa and a catch-up with the people you care about. The third Monday in January is sometimes referred to as ‘the most difficult day of the year’ but the Samaritans are trying to change this myth, recognising we all have our good and our bad days. So instead of Monday being ‘blue’ reach out and connect with family, friends, colleagues and loved ones – we can always make time for a cuppa and a catch-up. It doesn’t matter if it’s Monday morning or Saturday night, or if you’re drinking green tea, black coffee or orange juice. If you’re sharing a cuppa and listening, you’re doing it right. For more information visit Samaritans:

Need support? Call 116 123 to speak to a Samaritan

Further support around employee wellbeing can be accessed via the EDC Employee Assistance Programme – Time for Talking

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (22-28)

#CervicalCancerPreventionWeek

In conjunction with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust join us to raise awareness of cervical screening. One in four women and people with a cervix don’t attend cervical screening and we want to change that. However cervical cancer prevention doesn’t stop at screening. We want everyone to have the information and support they need. To get involved with the campaign or simply find out more visit the Jo Trust website

TimeForTalking App

How to Get it?

Type TimeForTalking (no spaces) in the App store or Google Play/Android.

Further support around employee wellbeing can be accessed via the EDC Employee Assistance Programme – Time for Talking counselling service.