The topic of mental health and well-being at work is nothing new, and the corporate world is well-versed in releasing public statements about it on awareness days such as today. But what does it take to really move the needle? Especially as studies such as the latest global health survey by Ipsos show that mental health remains the biggest health concern in general, outranking even physical illness.
Earlier this year, David Durlacher, Chief Executive Officer of Julius Baer International Ltd., Julius Baer’s subsidiary in the UK, took on the role of Global Mental Health Ambassador within the company. This comes after David trained and qualified as a Mental Health First Aider (MHFA), adding him to the 320 MHFAs across 12 Julius Baer locations globally. MHFAs have been trained to spot the early warning signs of mental health problems and to reach out to colleagues who may be struggling, initiating ways to have open and trusted conversations.
This employee-to-employee offering is just one element of how Julius Baer supports employees in safeguarding and prioritising their health. Deeply ingrained and reflected in the company’s core value of Care, employee health and well-being are viewed and promoted broadly along four pillars – mental health, physical health, financial well-being, and social well-being. Overall, they form a vital part of Julius Baer’s efforts to create and foster an open and inclusive culture, as working in such an environment is crucial to coping and remaining resilient.
Mental health concerns us all
As Global Mental Health Ambassador, David aims to give the topic a larger platform to enable more open discussions on mental health across all levels and regions of the organisation, so that an impact-oriented approach can be taken globally.
To go beyond surface-level statements this World Mental Health Day, David and Mental Health First Aider, Vanessa recorded a conversation about mental health and their own experiences to show others that they are not alone and to encourage an open dialogue.
No-one is alone when it comes to mental health. Much like physical health, it will ebb and flow throughout our lives whether that be due to stress, anxiety or grief. And, although it might seem as though we have come a long way, employees are still unlikely to be as forthcoming about a change in their mental health as they might be about a broken bone. A 2024 YouGov report found that 35 per cent of workers in the UK felt they couldn’t share mental health concerns with their line manager or leaders.
“Ultimately, we can all play a part in normalising the topic of mental health at work as long as we have the courage to initiate open and honest conversations,” explains David. “I want our teams to be able to support each other to be fit and mentally strong through life’s challenges. I want us to be known not only for delivering best in class wealth management, but also for our listening skills and empathy towards our clients and towards each other.”