World Mental Health Day and a Strategic Approach to Well-being at LSST Wembley Hive
By Dr Sanjay Mody, CEO of Healthcare Concierge
It was an honour to address the LSST Wembley Hive community on World Mental Health Day (10 October), where I had the pleasure of engaging with an inquisitive and thoughtful student and staff audience. The theme of my presentation revolved around the significance of mental health and well-being in the workplace — a subject close to my heart that highlights how nurturing a mentally healthy workforce benefits not only individuals but also organisations and communities as a whole.
Why Mental Health Matters in the Workplace
Organisations are driven by their people and supporting mental health is not just a matter of employee well-being but an organisational imperative. A workforce that feels valued and supported is more productive and loyal, directly impacting organisational success. In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure corporate environment, leaders need to understand the crucial link between strategic leadership, organisational culture and employee mental health. The link is not always ‘visible’.
Employers must be equipped with the tools to address stress, burnout and more complex mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. However, there is no universal solution; mental health strategies must be tailored to fit the needs of diverse teams, particularly for multinational companies managing a global workforce with different cultural contexts and expectations.
Key Insights from the Audience
During the presentation, LSST students and staff explored strategies that employers can adopt to build a mentally healthy work environment. The discussions were robust and insightful with participants contributing valuable perspectives on how mental health can be better integrated into the workplace. Here are some key takeaway points:
> Local Context / Global Advocacy Employers must balance addressing mental health issues locally while advocating for broader, global initiatives. This nuanced approach builds a positive reputation not only with employees but also with potential business partners.
> Leadership and Empathy Leaders play a pivotal role in setting the tone for mental well-being. By demonstrating emotional intelligence and responding compassionately to employees in distress, they can create a culture where mental health is taken seriously. A global mental health awareness training programme for managers was discussed as a practical starting point – and that was a great idea.
> Mindfulness and ‘Search Inside’ Training Introducing mindfulness practices like meditation and stress management is essential. The ‘Search Inside’ training emphasises personal well-being, engagement and productivity – these are core pillars of building a resilient workforce that is focused. This mindfulness approach, while simple, has far-reaching benefits for reducing absenteeism, boosting trust in leadership and aligning the goals of employee well-being with performance.
> Linking Well-being and Business Success The integration of mental health into the workplace is more than a one-off investment. It supports long-term productivity and performance aligning with the dual goals of improving employee health and driving business success. At LSST, this holistic approach to well-being is key to creating a supportive, innovative and beneficial environment for both students and staff.
Approaching Happiness
As part of our final discussion, we explored the concept of happiness — defining it as the balance between expectation and reality. This simple yet powerful idea resonated with many attendees and reinforced the notion that achieving well-being is about aligning our personal goals with our day-to-day experiences.
As LSST continues to innovate and evolve its mental health approach, the insights from our World Mental Health Day event will serve as a strong foundation. LSST is poised to become a leader in mental health awareness by focusing on tailored approaches that respect local and cultural contexts. The students who engage with these ideas today will go on to become the mental health champions of tomorrow — carrying these critical lessons into their future careers and enhancing their appeal to prospective employers.
Thank you LSST for the opportunity to share these insights with you all. The future looks bright and I am confident LSST will continue to lead the way in mental health advocacy in education and the workplace.
Dr Sanjay Mody MD (CI) MHSA Int (USA) BSc Hons (UK) MSoM (Lond.) CEO, Healthcare Concierge