When the Noise Becomes Too Loud: Remembering the Person Behind the Headlines
Over recent weeks, there has been considerable media attention surrounding Professor Jason Arday, the academic who resigned from the University of Cambridge following allegations of plagiarism and questions about aspects of his career. Plagiarism is serious. Perhaps we should call it what it is: academic cheating. It is not the same as what some of […]
The Building Is Not the Support
A practical August reflection on community mental health support, workplace pressure, and what happens when someone finally asks for help.
Mental Health Support in Banks and Libraries: A Lifeline, or a Headline Waiting for a Delivery Plan?
Mental health support in banks and libraries could be a genuine step forward. The announcement that walk-in mental health support centres could open in libraries, former banks and high street locations is, on the face of it, welcome news. According to reports this week, the Government is planning 100 new community mental health centres and […]
It’s hot out there. And not just the weather.
Hot weather, World Cup pressure and workplace wellbeing — July reflections on recovery, mental health, MHFA training and responding well.
How hot weather affects workplace wellbeing, stress, productivity and leadership in the UK
One spell of unusually hot weather. Hot weather workplace wellbeing is not just about comfort. One spell of unusually hot weather. That’s all it takes. Amber weather alerts. Train delays and cancellations. Schools are reviewing whether they can stay open. Employers are wondering why productivity has dipped. Hospitals facing staffing pressures. I experienced it myself […]
Why Do Men Still Leave It Too Late To Ask For Help?
Quick Answer: Why Do Men Leave It Too Late To Ask For Help? Many men delay asking for help because of stigma, embarrassment, fear of bad news, work pressure, cultural expectations and the belief that they should cope on their own. In the workplace, this can show up as irritability, withdrawal, overworking, poor sleep, increased […]
Why Hybrid Working Can Make Stress Harder To Spot
Hybrid working stress can be harder to spot because people may still appear present, productive and responsive while quietly struggling behind the screen. In elite sport, fatigue is usually measured carefully. Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, recent football coverage has focused not just on tactics and team selection, but on workload, recovery, fitness and […]
Loneliness Awareness Week: Why Are We More Connected Than Ever Yet Feel More Alone?
As Loneliness Awareness Week approaches, millions of people across the UK will be encouraged to have conversations about one of the most overlooked public health challenges of our time: loneliness. “It is strange to be known so universally and yet to be so lonely.”— Albert Einstein When you think of loneliness, who comes to mind? […]
Sweet Caroline, Extra Time and Burnout: What Football Teaches Us About Human Performance
“Why England’s biggest challenge may not be talent—but managing energy when it matters most.” Workplace burnout and performance under pressure may seem worlds apart from a World Cup Final. Yet by the latter stages of a major football tournament, even the best players in the world are no longer operating at full capacity. They have […]
Match Fit at Work: Is Football Coming Home?
A June reflection on World Cup fever, pressure, recovery and what it means to be match fit at work without quietly burning out.
Match Fit at Work: Is Football Coming Home?
Match fit is a phrase we usually hear in football, but this summer it might be just as relevant to work, leadership and mental health. Thomas Tuchel has picked his 26-man England squad for the 2026 World Cup, and as always, the nation has thoughts. Who should be on the plane? Who has been unfairly […]
Remote Burnout: 7 Warning Signs Managers Should Spot in Hybrid Teams
“Give up the delusion that burnout is the inevitable cost of success.” — Arianna Huffington Remote burnout can be harder for managers to spot because many of the usual workplace cues are hidden. I read Arianna Huffington’s book and found it powerful, especially the way she speaks openly about her own experience of burnout and […]
How Managers Can Spot Burnout In Remote And Hybrid Teams
Burnout in remote and hybrid teams does not always look like someone falling apart. The person on your team closest to burnout may not look overwhelmed. They may look OK. They reply late. They never push back. They keep the camera off, but the work still gets done. Everyone describes them as committed. And that […]
I can finally reveal where the garden party was…
Hi Reader, In my previous newsletter, I mentioned that I was attending a garden party… although I kept the details fairly quiet at the time. I can now reveal it was The King’s Trust 50th Anniversary Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. A week after Mental Health Awareness Week, it actually felt slightly ironic — and perhaps quite fitting — to spend the afternoon surrounded by conversations centred around community, opportunity, resilience and support. The charity was originally founded in 1976…
What Happens After Mental Health Awareness Week Ends?
Every May, Mental Health Awareness Week encourages workplaces across the UK to pause and talk more openly about wellbeing, burnout, leadership, and psychological safety. Footballers speak openly about pressure. Leaders share supportive messages. LinkedIn fills with awareness campaigns. Broadcasters discuss burnout, anxiety, stress, and resilience between matches and interviews. And for one week, something interesting […]