Nearly two years into the global pandemic and many journalists are feeling exhausted. We are entering 2022 with a sense of uncertainty, after an unprecedented period which has impacted the mental health of many in the news media.

The impact of COVID-19 has been devastating on many fronts. The toll it has taken on people’s mental health and wellbeing has been severe. So how can leaders bend rather than break during high pressure times, as well as lead their people and clients without compromising their wellbeing?

Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures, and the message from industry leaders at The Caterer’s People Summit was to embrace change and use it as a force for making a positive difference. In this article, we explore the latest advice on looking after your greatest asset: your people.

In this article, Mental Health at Work looks at the challenges faced by the police as public sympathy wanes due to the lockdown and the Black Lives Matter protests, and especially considers the impact this has had on Black police officers.

Mental illness is still taboo in many workplaces. But life can be transformed when you are able to talk to colleagues.

Mental illness is still taboo in many workplaces. But life can be transformed when you are able to talk to colleagues

The topic of mental health is always spoken about in hushed tones, whether it is in a family set-up or in the workplace. Despite celebrating mental health awareness days, many bosses are still not accommodating when it comes to mental illness.

With the spotlight increasingly fixed on the role of inclusive environments, considerable progress has been made in the business landscape to create cultures in which employees are able to reach their potential and contribute effectively. Despite awareness days, social media campaigns and increasing focus on mindfulness at work, stigma surrounding mental illness in the workplace continues to act as one of the biggest barrier to employee wellbeing.

Mental illness affects more than 300 million people globally. Leaders who adapt to educate, support and accept mental illness can avoid significant expenditure and better retain employees, vital when the costs of mental health for businesses rose to US $246 billion globally in 2017. Businesses that create supportive people-centred cultures reduce the effects of mental health illness, improving enterprise performance.

Mental health issues like anxiety, depression and stress are incredibly common, affecting one in four of us. Yet despite this statistic, there is still a very real and dangerous disparity between the normality of mental ill-health and how it is viewed. In this article, we speak to the experts about how we can begin to tackle the taboo around mental health.