Mental Health in the Workplace

I am passionate about discussing mental health with diverse audiences around the world. It’s a vital conversation for all workplaces, and I focus on how we can break the stigma and foster meaningful discussions about mental well-being. Positive mental health strategies not only enhance individual well-being but also drive business performance and brand equity.

Just like physical health, we all have mental health. However, we often fail to give the same importance to our mental well-being as we do to our physical health. It’s acceptable to discuss an injury from pushing our bodies too far during a marathon, but how often do we talk about pushing our mental resilience to its limits during a demanding workweek? Conversations about mental health typically arise only after something goes wrong, and even then, it remains a significant taboo, especially in professional settings. I advocate for proactive discussions on managing positive mental health in our work lives.

Unmanaged mental health can lead to enormous costs for workplaces, including lost productivity, prolonged illness, high attrition rates, accidents, and in extreme cases, loss of life. That’s why every coaching assignment and culture change initiative I undertake incorporates a focus on mental health. Too often, this topic is superficially addressed through well-meaning but ineffective initiatives like workplace massages or underutilized Employee Assistance Programs.

To improve workplace mental health, we must examine the leadership behaviors and organizational cultures that either facilitate or hinder discussions about mental well-being. The same culture and behaviors that shape employees’ daily experiences ultimately impact their mental health. A “Mental Health Awareness Week” celebration, complete with muffins and t-shirts, is meaningless if we aren’t actively fostering mentally positive behaviors in our leaders—behaviors that also contribute to high performance.

 

My Story and Work in Mental Health

Coming out in my 40s about my lifelong struggle with major depressive disorder has been both liberating and daunting. I have dealt with severe depression from a young age, and one of the key reasons I started my own consultancy in 2012 was to create the space I needed to confront my diagnosis—rather than continue expending energy pretending it didn’t exist.

I consider myself a mental health thriver, even though I still face challenges. I am passionate about advocating for mental health because I believe societal norms often fail to give the mind the respect it deserves. It’s puzzling that it's acceptable to harm someone's mind through workplace bullying and negative language, while physically harming someone is illegal. Why is it not taboo to visit a physiotherapist when seeking help from a psychotherapist is still often stigmatized?

The turning point for me came when I accepted that I needed to live in harmony with my mental health, recognizing that it has brought me both good and bad experiences. Through a combination of exercise, a balanced diet, lifestyle choices, and medication, I have gained a sense of control over my well-being.

I find great reward and strength in sharing my story with others. I enjoy speaking to workplace groups and individuals about my journey, with the hope of normalizing a conversation that affects so many.

If you’d like to discuss how we can collaborate on this important mission, or if you would like me to speak to your colleagues about what living with a mental health condition truly means and how workplaces can genuinely support individuals like me, please get in touch.