A few years ago, if someone had asked me whether mental health should be a workplace concern, I would’ve laughed and said, “Come on, we’ve got KPIs to meet!”
Mental health? Therapy? That sounded like a luxury—something for people with too much free time.
But that’s no longer my perspective.
Just a few weeks ago, we had a mental health awareness session at my workplace, facilitated by a professional. And let me tell you—it flipped the script for many of us.
Where I come from, and in most parts of Africa, mental health at work is still a taboo topic. There are so many stereotypes. If someone’s energy dips, they’re seen as lazy or unserious. But saying you're stressed or depressed? That’s almost unthinkable.
Yet here’s the truth:
Conversations around mental health are no longer optional—they’re essential.
In today’s fast-paced work culture, people are juggling personal challenges, economic pressure, and societal expectations while trying to meet ever-rising demands. Ignoring mental wellbeing doesn’t just affect individuals—it impacts teams, performance, and the entire organization.
The statement that stuck with me most during that session was:
“If you have a brain, you’re at risk of experiencing mental health issues given the conditions.”
It sounds so simple, yet it’s so powerful.
As we shared stories and connected the dots, many of us realized we had experienced these things ourselves—without knowing what they were. That “moody” colleague? Maybe they’re not just being difficult. Maybe the work environment is weighing them down. Unless someone is diagnosed, we may never know—But one thing is always within our control: kindness..
I’m truly grateful to Blue Crane Communications for creating a space for this conversation and providing us with the knowledge we didn’t even know we needed—until now.
With the rise of Gen Z in the workplace—a generation that understands their emotions and cares deeply about mental wellbeing—I, being Gen Z myself, am left with questions:
What are you, as a leader, individual, or company, doing differently?
Please share—someone might just pick a leaf… or even the whole tree 
.