Episode 1: Alcohol, Football and Domestic Abuse; and Alcohol, Loss and Bereavement
In this, the very first episode of Professional Drinkers, I’ll be kicking off with a discussion about the link between alcohol, football and domestic abuse. In line with the start of the Men’s Football World Cup 2022, I’ll share some of the key statistics and some recourses for HR professionals to be aware of to make sure we can all enjoy the games.
I’m so privileged to introduce Michelle Smith as my debut Podcast guest. Michelle is the Founder and Director of Loss, Grief and Bereavement Support (formerly Empower Workplace Solutions), which specialises in helping employers to improve retention rates by delivering training on how to support staff experiencing loss, grief, bereavement and compassion fatigue. Having worked as a palliative care nurse, Michelle knows all too well how the taboos that surround talking about death can be so painfully isolating for those who are living with grief. Michelle is courageous in her endeavours to bring this taboo topic into the workplace and I’m delighted to announce that, since recording this interview, we’ve collaborated to develop a wellbeing workshop that explores the relationship between alcohol and grief.
Sadly, a loss of any kind can so often be the trigger to a shift in a person’s relationship with alcohol. I went from being a happy, sociable drinker to someone who drank to forget. The speed at which I then started sinking into a very unhealthy relationship with alcohol was alarming.
If you’d like to include a Grief and Alcohol workshop in your workplace wellbeing package, get in touch at hello@choosesunrise.co.uk
You can find out more about the work that Michelle does at https://www.lossgriefandbereavementsupport.co.ukor following Michelle on Linked In at https://www.linkedin.com/in/msmithempowerws/
For advice on how to identify and respond to colleagues experiencing domestic abuse, this leaflet from the Department of Health is a free resource available to everyone:
For further resources relating to alcohol and domestic abuse, download this excellent leaflet from Alcohol Change UK:
Z9NkqFycjplEJwfYO08W
