Difficult Conversations: Mental Health at Work

Key Takeaways: approaching the conversation

• It’s the right thing to do. Conversations about mental health at work are important because managers have a moral obligation to look after their employees.
• Look for changes in behavior. Pay attention to any negative changes which may indicate someone is going through a difficult time.
• Keep it confidential. People don’t like being talked about, so keep it private. But if someone is at risk of harming themselves or others, you have a duty to seek expert help.

Mental health consultant Tom Oxley teaches managers how to create a safe environment for conversations about mental health, and how to approach a team member they think is struggling.

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About Tom Oxley

Tom Oxley is a mental health speaker, trainer and consultant. He is the director of Bamboo Mental Health, a consultancy helping employers support employees in improving mental health in the workplace.

Let’s Act: Normalizing the Conversations

By creating an environment where you encourage conversations around mental health, you’ll develop a safe space for your team where they’ll gradually feel more open about having such talks.

So make this commitment today:

• Make regular mental health check-ins part of your routine.

These could be in your one-to-ones or before you go into meetings. The point is that you’re checking up on the mental wellbeing of your team members regularly.