Let's Go Wellbeing

Progress on inclusion is real.

But for many people, the day-to-day experience still hasn’t caught up, especially at work.

In this conversation with Simon Blake, CEO of ‪@stonewalluk‬ we explored how that gap shows up in mental health.

A few things stood out:

• People still don’t feel able to be themselves at work
• Safety isn’t guaranteed — even in everyday situations
• Progress doesn’t always translate into real change

There’s still a gap between what’s changed on paper and what people experience in practice.

Curious to hear how others are seeing this show up in their organisations.

💬 Watch The Full Conversation Here
https://youtu.be/Vf5s2eZqR5M

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1 month ago | [YT] | 2

Let's Go Wellbeing

So many things to be grateful for this week - including a PB at the Gloucester Half Marathon.

Officially joining the sub-90 club with a time of 01:29:42!!

As with any good training regimen, recovery plays a vital role in overall performance.

That’s nutrition, sleep, mobility and in my case the next day, some well-deserved time in the local spa complete cold plunge and sauna.

It’s here where things get interesting….
And by interesting I mean deeply concerning.

In the sauna, I overheard someone say:
“As an employer, if I had the choice between hiring someone open about a mental health issue and someone with the same skills who wasn’t - or didn’t have one - I’d choose the other person. It’s only right.”

To say I was shocked and disappointed would be an understatement. 
I didn’t challenge it - wrong setting, low energy, but it stayed with me.

It also got me thinking:

How does this mindset still persist in 2026?

How many employers still think like this?

What more needs to be done to shift this mindset?

We’re losing 7% of GDP to ill health and still questioning whether people deserve support at work 🤔

I don’t claim to have the answer to any this, all I know is that I want to be part of the solution.

For me mental and physical health aren’t separate conversations.

For instance, do you think our friend from the sauna would keep the same energy for a candidate with a broken arm?

💬 Have you seen this mindset show up in hiring?

2 months ago | [YT] | 2

Let's Go Wellbeing

How people feel at work - does it actually impact performance?

🎙️ New episode with Matt Phelan now live

https://youtu.be/oQMPFYeQ7rU

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2 months ago | [YT] | 1

Let's Go Wellbeing

"Being intentional about wellbeing is about prioritising actions, protecting habits and choosing the things that keep you well - especially when you’re busy or stretched for time.”

In the latest episode of 🎙️The Let’s Go Wellbeing Podcast, I’m joined by Rob Stephenson to explore what intentional wellbeing really looks like and how music can support mental health, reduce stigma and open up more honest conversations at work.

📺 Watch the full episode here:
https://youtu.be/C4QbulO_11A

2 months ago | [YT] | 3

Let's Go Wellbeing

“A manager has more influence on your mental health than your doctor or therapist.” - Sarah McIntosh, CEO of Mental Health First Aid England

🎙️ In the latest episode of Wellbeing Talk episode, we explore why workplaces and especially managers, are uniquely positioned to spot early signs, offer support, and prevent crisis before it hits.

Sarah and I also discuss:

• The role of MHFA in a preventative wellbeing approach
• Insights from The MHFAider Effect
• Why the case for mandatory MHFA is growing
• How everyday conversations can genuinely save lives

📺 Watch the full episode here:
https://youtu.be/TFzcjRD9ybA


#MentalHealthFirstAid #WorkplaceWellbeing #Leadership #MHFAEngland #WellbeingTalk

6 months ago | [YT] | 3

Let's Go Wellbeing

What if we treated everyone like they were running their own uphill race?

This picture represents personal triumph over uncertainty, recurring injuries, and several changes in circumstance over the past year.

After 22km and 800m of elevation, I finished 16th out of 210 and shaved 22 minutes off my time from the same event last year.

As much as this is a win - which I definitely celebrated, it also got me thinking...

True acceptance underpins a sense of belonging - whether that's running in the hills or building a supportive workplace culture.

But it’s impossible to be truly accepting if we don’t make the effort to understand the circumstances shaping someone else’s journey.

In my case it was an on going achilles tendonitis, the end of a relationship, moving house and the genuine doubt of whether I’d ever be able to run again.

For others, it could be any number of emotional, physical, acute, or environmental stressors as they:

- Work on the other side of the office
- Train quietly in the corner of the gym
- Push a trolley around a supermarket

You just never know.

I’ve learnt that it’s easier to judge than to encourage - that the battle is real and everyone has one, whether they realise it or not.

My invitation to you: between now and next Friday (World Mental Health Day), take one intentional moment - however small - to understand more about the experiences of those around you.

You never know who needs it most.

#worldmentalhealthday #personalgrowth #wellbeingatwork

7 months ago | [YT] | 1

Let's Go Wellbeing

“Inclusion is not just a moral imperative, it’s good business.” - Simon Blake OBE Blake, CEO of ‪@stonewalluk‬

🎙️ I had the privilege of sitting down with Simon for the Wellbeing Talk Podcast to explore how inclusion impacts mental health at work.

We talked about:

· Why inclusive cultures support both wellbeing and retention
· The role of data in shifting senior leaders’ thinking
· Practical steps employers can take right now

💬 Catch the full conversation below

8 months ago | [YT] | 1

Let's Go Wellbeing

Every 90 minutes, someone dies by suicide in the UK or Ireland - The ripple effect touches families, emergency services and the workplace.

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of sitting down with Julie Bentley, CEO of ‪@samaritans‬ to explore the real cost of suicide in the workplace and what employers can do to support people long before they reach crisis point.

From using lived experience to inform best practice, to the importance of online safety and the role of leadership in shaping safer, more supportive workplace cultures - This conversation was powerful, honest and deeply insightful.

Thank you Julie and the entire Samaritans team for the important work you do ☕️

Full episode dropping soon.

#SuicidePrevention #WorkplaceWellbeing #WellbeingTalk #MentalHealthAtWork

10 months ago | [YT] | 4

Let's Go Wellbeing

Permitting ourselves to understand another person - without judgement or evaluation - allows us to fully step into their frame of reference and enables them to find acceptance.

Acceptance of themselves, their feelings, their perspectives on life, and their way of approaching challenges.

It’s also an essential component of empathy and non-judgemental listening.

Something i’m proud to say this latest group of newly qualified Mental Health First Aiders from Siemens Energy demonstrated in abundance during the two days we spent together last week.

Thank you all for your commitment, focus and engagement - especially on what were likely some of the hottest days of the year so far!

💬 What do you think is essential for non-judgemental listening? (comment below)

#MentalHealthFirstAid #mentalhealthawareness  #WellbeingAtWork #mhfa

11 months ago | [YT] | 4

Let's Go Wellbeing

🎥 From Isolation to Support: Mental Health Lessons from Thunderbolts

As we approach Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, with the theme of "Community", Marvel’s latest release Thunderbolts offers a thought-provoking exploration of mental health - particularly psychosis and the healing potential of supportive relationships.

At the heart of the film is Bob Reynolds, aka Sentry - a character grappling with extreme shifts between high and low mood.

“Some days I feel like I’m invincible. On others, everything just feels meaningless.”

His transformation into The Void - a disconnection from reality portrayed through interlinked dream states and hallucinations rooted in childhood trauma - is more than just a superhero trope. It’s a visceral portrayal of internal chaos and the isolating nature of mental illness.

The film treats his condition with nuance, neither vilifying nor romanticising it - but instead showing it as a complex, deeply human experience.

While conditions like Bipolar Disorder, Psychotic Depression and Schizophrenia are often viewed as rare, they have a profound impact on individuals and communities.

Frustratingly, the most recent prevalence data hasn't been updated in over a decade 😬 - but that doesn’t make these experiences any less real or relevant.

In Thunderbolts, the team - each member scarred by loneliness, regret, and trauma - forms an unexpected support system. 
Their shared pain and mutual recognition become a quiet but powerful expression of community as a protective factor in mental health.

They don’t “fix” each other. But instead offer something just as important: a foundation for being seen, heard and not face the darkness alone - a Community.

It’s a narrative that invites reflection and it got me thinking:

💬 How often do we overlook the Bobs around us - those who seem strong on the outside but may be silently struggling?

💬 What can we do to build personal and professional communities that prioritise psychological safety and mental well-being?

Thunderbolts reminds us that real strength lies not in perfection or power, but in empathy, understanding, and connection.

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #Thunderbolts #PsychosisAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #marvel

1 year ago | [YT] | 1