Mental Wellbeing Campaign Urges Drivers To Start Talking

Today (Friday 9 October) see the launch of a new campaign from Kwik Fit, in partnership with ITV Media, which aims to help improve the nation’s wellbeing through encouraging customers to take the simplest of steps.

The ‘Kwik Chat’ initiative has been prompted by research showing that just one ‘quality conversation’ during the day increases happiness and reduces stress, anxiety and loneliness.1 The campaign sees Kwik Fit, the UK’s largest MOT tester, encouraging its customers to use the time while they are waiting for their cars to be MOTed or serviced for a dedicated moment of mental maintenance.

The company is prompting its customers to use this opportunity for a Kwik Chat and have a conversation with a loved one. With Kwik Fit carrying out over one million MOTs and services annually across its national network, the company says there are potentially one million chances to support mental wellbeing. 

Those conversations become even more critical when considering that one in three UK adults prefer not to discuss their mental health2, with 40% of men never having spoken to anyone about it3. 

Kwik Chat is being carried out in partnership with ITV Media. At the core of the campaign is a film which features a Kwik Fit technician gliding through the garage and waiting room on a mechanic’s trolley, stopping at different customers to deliver a deadpan message directly to the camera about taking time to have a Kwik Chat. 

Tom Gentle, head of retail marketing at Kwik Fit said: “At Kwik Fit we are experts on car maintenance, not mental health specialists - we're simply nudging people to call someone they care about whilst we look after their car. Our nationwide footprint means we can do this at scale and do our bit towards improving the mental wellbeing of our customers and the people they’re close to.

“Kwik Fit’s purpose is to keep the nation’s road users safe and happy and this campaign extends that ethos. While we take care of their car’s MOT, our customers can use the time to look out for their family and friends.  It’s far too easy to waste free time doomscrolling through social media – having a Kwik Chat will be much more valuable.

”The campaign will run on ITV for the next six weeks and will be supported by Kwik Fit’s owned channels. These include posters and leaflets which will feature in centre receptions along with radio programming designed to inspire people to pick up the phone, staff posters and manager communications, and a selection of billboards across the UK. With £1 million in ITV commercial airtime having been awarded from ITV’s ‘Head First’ award, the campaign will span UK TV to deliver the message nationwide and inspire drivers of Britain to take action.

The campaign film can be seen here.

- ends -

Sources

1. Just one quality conversation with a friend boosts daily well-being, study shows | KU News
2. A third of UK keeps silent on mental health | Mind News
   
3. Men's Mental Health: Why 40% of men won't talk about it - Priory
   

About Kwik Fit

Established in 1971, the Kwik Fit Group is one of the largest independent automotive parts, repair and replacement specialists in the world. Kwik Fit has over 600 service centres across the UK and more than 200 mobile tyre fitting vehicles, making it the UK’s leading tyre, exhaust, brake and MoT specialist. Details of its range of products and services can be found at kwik-fit.com