Sunflower Thinking

And that's a wrap on Summer Lunch & Learn: Wellbeing in Action series!

Four sessions.
Four very different conversations. And lots of wonderful people who chose to spend some of their summer making space for their wellbeing.

And honestly? I've loved it. 💛
I hoped these sessions would be useful, practical and enjoyable for everyone who joined, but they've been so good for me too.

There's something pretty special about bringing people together, opening up conversations, sharing ideas and watching connections happen.

I've come away with connection, purpose, curiosity and hope and a very big smile!

We talked about resilience, having conversations that count, navigating grief and loss, and the importance of looking after ourselves while supporting others.

But perhaps the biggest thing I'd like us to take away is much simpler:
We can make our wellbeing a priority.
We really can.
We can take the hour.
We can press pause.
We can ask for help.
We can set the boundary.
We can have the conversation.
We can take that little walk.
We can give ourselves permission to breathe.
And hopefully, these four sessions have reminded all of us that we're worth that time.

And here's the bit I don't want you to miss…
Although the Summer Lunch & Learn series has finished, these conversations don't have to end here and they don't have to wait until next summer!

The four sessions can be booked by organisations throughout the year, either as individual lunchtime sessions or adapted into a bespoke programme around the needs of your people.
Building Your Personal Resilience.
Conversations That Count.
Grief, Loss & Life Changes.
Looking After You While Supporting Others.
And I'm very happy to create similar sessions around the themes that matter most to your organisation.

So if you're thinking about your team's wellbeing, planning your learning calendar or simply want to create some space for meaningful conversations, I'd love to chat.

Let's bring Wellbeing in Action to your organisation.

And to my fantastic attendees - thank you for making my summer brighter.

It's been an absolute pleasure.
See you next time?

My first meeting this week was a gorgeous conversation with Dorset Menopause Support, and I was celebrating something that had genuinely changed my world.

Back in May, my GP surgery offered me an appointment with a specialist menopause practice nurse. She was able to spend meaningful time with me, listen properly, explore my symptoms and help me understand my options. I felt heard, validated and really understood.

That conversation supported me to move onto suitable HRT, and the difference has been enormous. Some symptoms have become easier, others have disappeared completely. It has changed my quality of life.

So imagine how I felt when, at my check-up appointment today, I was told that this provision no longer exists.

No more women being able to access what I accessed through this surgery.

How, in 2026, are we going backwards in women’s health?

How, when we know more than we ever have about menopause, its symptoms and the sometimes catastrophic impact they can have on women’s lives, are we caring less?

I understand that money is a factor. Of course I do. But if I had been given a three-minute appointment rather than the time I needed, if I hadn’t had the opportunity to properly explore my symptoms and treatment options, surely that has a cost too?

A cost in pounds, yes. But also a cost in lost productivity, relationships, confidence, wellbeing and quality of life.

I consider myself incredibly fortunate that I “got in” just in time. But I know I will need support again at some point. And what about the many women I hear from through the work I do?

Where is their opportunity to be heard? To be validated? To explore their symptoms and treatment options with someone who understands menopause?

This isn’t about asking for special treatment. It’s about appropriate, informed healthcare.

So I keep asking:

When will women’s health become a sustainable priority, rather than something we invest in briefly and then take away?

Because meaningful time with a knowledgeable healthcare professional can change a woman’s world. I know. I’ve experienced it.

Some moments stay with you.

Today was the third of my Summer Lunch & Learn: Wellbeing in Action sessions – Grief, Loss & Life Changes.

It's a topic that means a great deal to me personally and one that I never take lightly.

There is something incredibly powerful about bringing people together to talk about loss. To hear different experiences. To recognise the things we have in common. To realise that grief can look so very different, yet the need for connection, compassion and understanding is often the same.

And after sessions like this, I need a little time too.
So this little sit outside in stillness is part of how I decompress, breathe and decompartmentalise. I take some time to step away from the conversation, let my mind settle, breathe in some fresh air and reconnect with myself before moving on with the rest of my day.
Because looking after ourselves isn't something we should only encourage others to do.
It applies to all of us.

Thank you to everyone who joined me today and shared this space so openly and compassionately. It was a privilege to spend the hour with you.

And we have one more Summer Lunch & Learn next Thursday:
Looking After You While Supporting Others
Thursday 27 August
12:30–1:30pm
Live via Microsoft Teams
Our final session will bring the series full circle, looking at boundaries, compassion fatigue and the importance of caring for ourselves while caring for others.

If you'd like to join us for the final session, there's still time to book.
🌻 Take one hour for yourself.

Email [email protected] to book!

World Su***de Prevention Day & World Mental Health Day.

September and October give us two important opportunities to put mental health firmly on the agenda.

World Su***de Prevention Day – 10th September
World Mental Health Day – 10th October

These aren’t just dates for awareness posts. They are opportunities for organisations to start conversations, build confidence and give people practical tools to support themselves and others.

If you’re looking for a meaningful way to mark these important days with your team, why not bring mental health learning into the workplace?

I have a range of sessions available, including but not exclusively:
Enhanced Su***de Prevention Skills – building confidence to recognise warning signs, have compassionate conversations and respond safely.

Beyond First Aid – supporting MHFAiders beyond their initial training, including self-care, grief support and su***de awareness

Trauma Informed Practice – understanding the impact of trauma and creating safer, more supportive environments.

Grief, Loss & Life Changes – exploring how loss can affect our mental health and how we can support ourselves and others

Supporting the Supporters – because those who care for others need support too.

Building Resilience – practical strategies to help people manage challenges, change and pressure.

Whether you’re planning something specifically for World Su***de Prevention Day, World Mental Health Day, or simply want to make mental health a priority this autumn, I’d love to help you create something meaningful for your organisation.

📅 I have limited availability across September and October – If you’d like to discuss a session for your team, get in touch and let’s make it happen.

Because awareness matters. But confidence, conversation and action matter too.

***dePreventionDay ***dePrevention

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of delivering a session to a senior leadership team on creating genuinely neuroinclusive workplaces.

And honestly, the level of interest, openness and commitment was palpable.
There was 100% buy-in to the importance of the subject, but what I loved most happened right at the very end.

One of the managers simply turned to his colleagues and asked:
“And so what?”
It’s a question they ask each other a lot.
Not as a challenge, but as a way of asking:
What are we going to do with this new knowledge?
How will we turn awareness into action?
And, crucially, how will we know it’s working?

That, to me, is exactly what you want to hear.
Because neuroinclusion isn’t about attending a session, learning some new terminology or having good intentions.
It’s about what happens next.

It was genuinely humbling to see and experience that shift from awareness to action happening in the room.

So, I’m curious: When your organisation learns something important about inclusion, what is your “and so what?”
What changes because of what you’ve learned?

New free resource 🌻

Today marks the final part of The Supportive Conversation Series, a six-month journey exploring how we can better support the people around us.

Over the past few months we've explored how to notice when someone might be struggling, start supportive conversations, validate feelings, listen with care and help people find the support they need.

Part 6: Checking In & Following Up

One conversation can make a difference.

But knowing someone is still thinking of you days, weeks or even months later can make an even greater one.

Checking in doesn't have to be complicated. A simple message, a quick phone call, or asking, "How have things been since we last spoke?" can remind someone that they matter and that they don't have to face things alone.

This month's free guide shares 10 thoughtful ways to check in and follow up with kindness, while respecting boundaries and looking after your own wellbeing too.

Support isn't about getting everything right.
It's about showing up, staying connected, and reminding people they're not alone.

Sign up to the mailing list to download the free guide: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1083901/194958645297940406/share

If you've found this series helpful and would like to build your confidence even further, I'd love to support you.
Whether you're looking for workplace mental health training, Mental Health First Aid, manager development or bespoke wellbeing workshops, you can explore all of the learning opportunities available through Sunflower Thinking on the services page.
🌻 https://sunflowerthinking.com/services

Thank you to everyone who has followed The Supportive Conversation Series over the last six months. I hope these resources have helped you feel more confident to notice, listen and support those around you.
Because sometimes, the most powerful words we can say are simply, "I've been thinking about you."

🌻

What a wonderful afternoon! 🌻
A huge thank you to BCHA for a fantastically well-organised, friendly and fun Festival of Wellbeing. What a brilliant event! 💛

It was so lovely to meet so many brilliant people who stopped by to chat about all things mental health, training, wellbeing action plans and mindful colouring (yes… of course there were sunflowers! 🌻🎨).
And I was especially excited to share my new little giveaway — Grow Your Own Sunshine 🌻🌱 — sunflower seeds to plant next March. I hope they bring a little sunshine to your gardens, balconies and windowsills next spring!

A few hours spent surrounded by fabulous, wellbeing-focused people, great conversations, plenty of smiles and lots of sunshine… what more could you ask for?

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, chatted, coloured, planted and shared the afternoon with us. 💛

Already looking forward to the next one!

Thank you to 8 fantastic attendees!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of welcoming 8 fantastic people to the first of my Summer Lunch & Learn: Wellbeing in Action sessions.

It was such a lovely, warm and supportive environment, with plenty of conversation, reflection and practical ideas around Building Your Personal Resilience.

And the lovely feedback coming in has been the perfect reminder of why creating spaces like this matters.

There are still three sessions to come:
13 August – Conversations That Count
20 August – Grief, Loss & Life Changes
27 August – Looking After You While Supporting Others
12:30–1:30pm | Microsoft Teams

If you've been thinking about joining us, there's still time!

Take one hour for yourself this August. 🌻

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/q7aDztbDv9

A little favour from my wonderful community...

This Friday, Sunflower Thinking will be at the BCHA Festival of Wellbeing and I'm looking for someone who might be able to lend a hand for a few hours.

If you enjoy chatting with people, don't mind getting stuck into some fun wellbeing activities and would like to help spread a little sunshine, I'd love to hear from you! 💛

No special experience is needed, just a friendly face, a willingness to get involved and a passion for supporting wellbeing.

It's a fantastic community event, and I'd really appreciate having an extra pair of hands while we welcome visitors to the Sunflower Thinking stall.

If you're free on Friday 7th August between 1pm–4pm (or even for part of the afternoon), Bournemouth area please send me a message.

Equally, if you know someone who might enjoy it, I'd be so grateful if you could tag them or share this post.

Thank you for always supporting Sunflower Thinking, it means more than you know. 🌻

Have you booked your place yet?

I’ve been so encouraged by the response to Sunflower Thinking’s Summer Lunch & Learn: Wellbeing in Action series. Thank you to everyone who’s already signed up!

These sessions aren’t about sitting through another webinar, they’re about taking an hour to learn something practical, reflect, ask questions and leave with tools you can actually use.

This year’s sessions are:
Building Your Personal Resilience
6 August
Conversations That Count
13 August
Grief, Loss & Life Changes
20 August
Looking After You While Supporting Others
27 August
12:30pm–1:30pm - Live on Microsoft Teams

If you’ve been meaning to book but haven’t quite got round to it, there’s still time. Email [email protected] today!

✔️ One hour over lunch.
✔️ Practical, interactive and supportive.
✔️ Join one session or all four.

Because investing in your wellbeing isn’t a luxury, it’s one of the most valuable investments you can make.

I’d love to see you there. 🌻