According to a global study, 69% of employees said their mental health was attributed to their managers – that's on par with the impact of a spouse or partner (69%)! To put that in perspective, it's significantly greater than the influence of doctors (51%) or therapists (41%). This reveals a powerful truth: managers are pivotal in shaping the daily work experience and the overall well-being of their teams.

While conversations on mental health have been gaining more attention since the rise of COVID-19, it is still considered a sensitive topic within the workplace. This could be a result of pre-existing stigma which can hinder discussions on mental health. To tackle this, Ciaran provides three key approaches that can help foster feelings of safety and positivity within the work environment.

Why is it culturally acceptable for us to take sick leave when we are dealing with a physical illness and not a mental one? That’s because mental health is still not fully understood and rarely discussed openly in the workplace and we need to normalise such conversations ASAP.