Mental Health at Work

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Returning to work with confidence after extended time off

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Returning to work with confidence after extended time off

Returning to work after extended leave can bring up a real mix of emotions.

Whether you have been away because of illness, bereavement, caring responsibilities, parental leave, burnout, mental health concerns, redundancy, a career break or another life event, returning to work can feel like stepping back into a world that has carried on without you.

There may be new systems, new people, new priorities, new expectations or simply a lot of information to absorb. At the same time, there can be quiet pressure to appear “fine”, “back to normal” or able to pick up exactly where you left off.

But returning well is not about proving you can cope immediately. It is about giving yourself enough clarity, support and realistic expectations to find your way back gradually.

Here, guest writer Trisha Gudka shares how to build your confidence, energy, and manage the mental load through small, actionable steps.

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The three pillars of work-life alignment: a smarter framework for modern living

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The three pillars of work-life alignment: a smarter framework for modern living

What would it look like if your work and your life actually worked together?

This week feels like the ideal time to explore exactly that. It's Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year the Mental Health Foundation has set the theme as "Action" — something that really resonates with us. Because when it comes to how we live and work, good intentions only get us so far. What actually moves the needle is doing things differently.

And that's precisely what we're here to talk about. We're diving into the three pillars of work-life alignment, and why we think it might be time to retire the narrative of "balance". Because the way we think about the relationship between work and life shapes everything; how we feel, how we show up, and how we move through our days.

So before we get into the pillars themselves, let's start with a key question…

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How to start a conversation about mental health at work

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How to start a conversation about mental health at work

Today marks Time to Talk Day, a day recognised by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness in support of ending the stigma that still surrounds mental health.

While we’ve come a long way in taking mental health issues seriously, sadly there is still a stigma attached to the term ‘mental health’. Whether that’s in the form of embarrassment, shame or denial, the reality is it can prevent individuals from either acknowledging their own mental health concerns, or talking about it openly with others.

Particularly in the workplace, it can feel difficult to be vulnerable and open up in a psychologically safe, supported space, as this is deeply dependent on the surrounding workplace culture.

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How to overcome Blue Monday

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How to overcome Blue Monday

Did you know, Blue Monday started off as a PR stunt? The calculations behind the date aren’t exactly scientific, but there certainly is some truth to Blue Monday. Here are a few ways you can beat the blues at work - whether you’re an entrepreneur, or work in a team.

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How to create a burnout prevention strategy for your workplace

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How to create a burnout prevention strategy for your workplace

Have you thought about how your organisation could benefit from implementing a burnout prevention strategy? There is certainly a strong business case for investing the time to do this, alongside wider initiatives that support employee wellbeing.

Did you know that in the UK alone, 1 in 5 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week? Additionally, a HSE Report cites that approximately 16.4 million working days were lost in 2023/24 due to work-related stress, depression, or anxiety. Furthermore, better mental health support at work can save UK businesses up to 8 billion annually.

How can you make a meaningful change happen in your workplace? The good news is, it can start with just one person, no matter your level of seniority, and here’s how you can get started.