ICAS Insights: Ending workplace stigma linked to mental health

A webcast hosted by ICAS

It’s well known that healthy and energised employees enhance business performance. Yet within many workplaces there still exists a great deal of stigma linked to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

To help us consider the problems and identify practical solutions, we’ll be joined by Geoff McDonald, former Global VP of Human Resources for Unilever. A keynote speaker, business transformation advisor and campaigner, Geoff now uses his personal mental-health insights and his professional experience to help inspire business leaders to embrace mental-health issues and empower their organisations to make positive change.

Geoff will be joined by fellow advocate, Jonny Jacobs CA, Starbucks Finance Director EMEA, Trustee of the Mental Health Foundation and Non-Exec of Mental Health at Work. ICAS One Young CA in 2017, Jonny now works with organisations to promote awareness of mental health in the workplace.

Key themes and topics

• How to address the stigma linked to mental health
• Practical strategies to help raise workplace awareness of depression and anxiety
• How to position employee wellbeing and mental health as a competitive advantage.

Speakers

• Geoff McDonald

Geoff is a passionate campaigner for breaking the stigma associated with Mental Health in the corporate world. He has participated in several BBC programmes and campaigns on this subject, is regularly featured in interviews and podcasts and has contributed articles to newspapers and journals.

In 2016 Geoff convened a meeting at No 10 Downing Street with David Cameron and CEOs from FTSE 100 Companies, to address their role and agree actions to challenge the way mental health issues are perceived in business.

He has also provided some support to the Royal Foundation in their Heads Together mental health campaign, and recently had the opportunity to engage with Pope Francis on how we can create a more sustainable and inclusive economy through his involvement with the Global Foundation.

• Jonny Jacobs CA

A chance meeting with Geoff McDonald changed Jonny’s perspective on life and helped start his own journey as a mental-health advocate:

“Geoff’s passion for finding your purpose and accepting vulnerability to help others was so pivotal for me personally. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to share my story if it hadn’t been for Geoff’s guidance and passion. His unique approach and experience offer an unparalleled insight which helped shape the way I advocate mental fitness in business.”

Jonny believes in purpose-driven leadership and has a real focus on health and wellbeing in the workplace and sustainability agendas in business. His passion to drive change is championed through his many roles across non-exec platforms including a Trustee of the Mental Health Foundation, Non-Exec of Mental Health at Work, One Young World Ambassador, Goalkeeper of the Bill & Malinda Gates Foundation, Chartered Accountant of the Year 2017, and he’s involved in various business and mental wellbeing forums.

(Please note that views and opinions expressed by speakers at ICAS webinars are their own and not necessarily reflective of ICAS’ views.)

Who’s this for?

• CAs with experience of or an interest in mental-health issues
• Organisational managers and leaders.