2nd National Congress on Mental Health in the Workplace, Porto, Nov 2024

We were delighted to have been invited back to Porto to present at the 2nd National Congress on Mental Health in the Workplace in November 2024. The Congress is organised by ASM in Portugal, and is led by the inspiring Filipa Palha.

ASM and it’s associated organisations continue to push back the boundaries by highlighting the measures that can be used to improve Mental Health in the country and reduce the stigma and discrimination that is unfortunately commonplace for people suffering from Mental Health issues.

This conference focused on MH in the Workplace. We were joined as presenters by a select group of international experts with backgrounds covering academia and both public and private sector organisations.

Jo focused on the learnings that have come from the very succesful “Time To Change” campaigns that took place in the UK for many years until its close in 2021. Sharing the best practice from a well established programme can kick-start an embyonic new programme, and that’s something that ASM and it’s associates are keen to do.

Simon focused on “Compassionate Leadership and Coaching Implementation” using his international business experience alongside the Coaching and Mentoring that is now a major part of what we do at Beech Hill Consulting. Understanding the techniques that can be adopted by leaders to create a compassionate and understanding organisational atmosphere is so important, as is the role of Executive Coaching and Mentoring.

Contact us for more information on Behavior Change campaigning in the Charity sector, as well as Coaching and Mentoring, and leadership training.

Compassionate leadership and creating a mentally healthy workplace

We were privileged to be asked to present at the 4º FÓRUM DE SAÚDE MENTAL NO LOCAL DE TRABALHO in Porto, Portugal, in November. This translates to 4th MENTAL HEALTH FORUM IN THE WORKPLACE and was organised by Encontrar+SE and their inspiring President Dr Filipa Palha.

The forum was billed as a chance to look at the monumental changes that have taken place in recent years relating to Covid, conflict and economic pressures - these changes have impacted the vast majority of people in some way with many seeing the way they work fundamentally changed. This has acted as a catalyst for people to pause and consider their future – it’s given them permission to think differently.

Of course not everyone has the possibility to pause and consider as the necessities of economic life dictate their options but for those that have, it’s been both challenging and beneficial. So called “hybrid working” has led to organisations having to rethink their approach to employment conditions. Employees have become more demanding, with a mentally healthy workplace being high on the list of top conditions required.

Our sessions and workshop at the Forum concentrated on “Compassionate leadership and creating a mentally healthy workplace” We have found that organisational culture and leadership are critical to the creation of attractive workplaces – we mean attractive in the widest sense of the word covering environment, employment conditions and the sense of being able to “thrive”.

Compassionate leadership creates a culture in which people can thrive – compassionate doesn’t mean “soft”, it means caring and nurturing. By necessity this leadership can still be demanding, but demanding in a way that allows dialogue and discussion with teams and individuals. Remember that there are many layers of leadership within an organisation whether at so called “C Suite”, Director, Manager or Supervisor level and all can utilise the compassionate leadership style.

Coaching can play a big part in this leadership culture. Many organisations have turned to professional Coaches to help facilitate and navigate through the change to hybrid working as well as the creation of a more compassionate culture. We have found a number of great examples where a coaching approach to leadership has led to organisational cultural change for the better. If you are seeking a work life balance for your people, or what we would rather call a “work life blend”, Coaching can certainly help

At Beech Hill Consulting we work with leaders at all levels whether coaching them, advising on coaching style in their organisation or helping them create and implement a strategy to build a mentally healthy workplace.

Today is Time To Talk Day

Today is #TimetoTalk Day – the day is all about creating supportive communities by having conversations with family, friends, or colleagues about mental health. 

I’ve spent much of my career advocating for the right of those of us with mental health problems to be able, should we choose, to speak about our experiences without shame or the fear of negative judgement from others – not just on days like today, but everyday throughout the year. 

These days are important, in my view, because they have the power to act as a springboard, to start behaviours that we mean to continue throughout the year; having open and honest conversations about how we’re feeling, so that we can support ourselves, be supported by others, or support when we think others might be struggling. 

The day is also about harnessing the power of listening.  In my opinion, listening and really hearing what someone has to say, are hugely underrated.  Over the years, I’ve often been asked “will talking and being heard fix the problem?” - almost certainly not.  Will it ease the burden, allow people to explore solutions, gain perspective, give a sense of control by verbalising what’s happening for them and perhaps navigate a way forward? – I’d say “yes, absolutely.”.

And for all those people who have taken the time to walk alongside me when I’ve been in a dark place in my life, from my partner (such huge respect and love for your enduring support Simon), my family, my friends, my work colleagues … I want to say thank you. 

And thanks too to all of you out there who I don’t know, but who have supported others on their journeys – you who are the quiet but steady supporters who have taken the time to notice, to ask, to ask again, and to listen.  You who have not tried to fix or to be the expert but who have legitimised our stories, and have helped us understand that living with a mental health problem is just a facet of who we are, a facet that will not will not diminish who we are, what we can achieve or how loveable we are.  

So whatever you do today, tomorrow or into the future, let’s open up to mental health, let’s talk more, let’s listen lots, let’s change lives – one conversation at a time.

Jo Loughran