“How can we help to break the stigma around mental health and make sure everyone in our sector has access to support?”
This was the question discussed by The Printing Charity’s Nicola Peacock and guest speaker Susan Graham, Managing Director of FLB Print Group and President of Print Scotland, in a special webinar to mark World Mental Health Day 2025.
The importance of World Mental Health Day
Nicola explained why this year’s theme, ‘Access to services: everyone deserves good mental health’, is so important. “Tomorrow is World Mental Health Day, and we wanted to open the conversation to everyone in our industry. Whether you’re just starting out on your wellbeing journey or already leading initiatives in your business, this day is about reminding ourselves that support is there for everyone, and that talking is the first step.”
More than 250 people registered for the session, and over 100 joined live, a clear sign that people in print, paper, packaging and publishing want to talk about mental health and share ideas for positive change.
Creating safe spaces for honest conversations
Susan shared how her company’s wellbeing culture has evolved over the past six years. “I first heard about mental health first aid through a job interview,” she said. “A candidate mentioned she was a trained mental health first aider, and it really struck me that we didn’t have that in place. We were very good at health and safety, but we hadn’t built a structure around emotional wellbeing.”
That moment led Susan to train as a Mental Health First Aid Leader with St Andrew’s First Aid. “I realised wellbeing had to be led from the top,” she said. “So, we set out to create a culture where everyone, regardless of role, could speak openly and feel supported.”
There are small but important differences in how Mental Health First Aid leadership works across the UK. In Scotland, training is quality-assured by Public Health Scotland and often delivered in smaller, in-person groups. In England, MHFA England works as a social enterprise, partnering with employers to strengthen workplace wellbeing. In Wales, MHFA Wales runs nationally licensed programmes linked to Welsh Government mental health strategies, focusing on early intervention and community support.
For a sector with long-serving teams, this approach has been transformative. “We have people who’ve been with us for 40 or 50 years. During that time, they go through huge life events such as bereavement, marriage and having children, and those things affect them at work. We wanted to make sure there was a safe space to talk about it all.”
Breaking down barriers
Susan reflected that changing workplace culture takes time. “When I started, the culture was very traditional, especially among men. There was still that ‘stiff upper lip’ attitude. But training managers and colleagues to talk openly has made such a difference. It’s brought more empathy into the business and made people realise it’s okay to say, ‘I’m not coping.’”
This openness has led to new ways of working. “We introduced stress risk assessments, awareness training and created quiet rooms for confidential chats. If people don’t want to talk at work, they can step outside or go for a walk. It’s not about formality, it’s about being there for each other.”
Supporting those who support others
Nicola reminded attendees that The Printing Charity’s helpline is also there for managers and mental health first aiders. “Sometimes those supporting others need space to talk too,” she said. “You can call our helpline to debrief after a difficult conversation, to ask for advice, or just to talk through how you’re feeling.”
Susan agreed. “Managers carry a lot of pressure. Having access to the helpline gives them somewhere to turn when they need help themselves. It’s an essential part of our wellbeing structure.”
Promoting wellbeing from day one
FLB Print Group now includes mental health awareness as part of its induction process, giving every new employee information about the charity’s services. “Starting a new job can be daunting,” Susan said. “We want people to know from day one that there’s support available both inside and outside the business.”
Nicola added that managers and HR teams can easily integrate the charity’s monthly wellbeing messages into their own internal communications. “Our goal is to make it simple for organisations to share resources that keep wellbeing visible all year round.”
Measuring change through empathy
Susan said that one of the most rewarding changes has been seeing performance conversations shift from purely task-focused to people-focused. “Instead of asking why someone isn’t performing, we look at what might be going on underneath. Managers have learned to spot when something’s not right, and that human understanding has improved the whole culture.”
She added: “We now have more mental health first aiders than physical first aiders, and that speaks volumes about the priorities in our business.”
Encouraging connection and openness
Nicola closed the webinar by thanking everyone who joined. “We’re so grateful to everyone who made time to take part today. The turnout shows that people in print care deeply about each other’s wellbeing. When we talk about mental health, we break down barriers, and that’s exactly what this day is about.”
The Printing Charity’s free, confidential helpline is funded by the charity and offers both emotional support (24/7) and practical guidance (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm). Managers, wellbeing teams and employees can all use it.
The Printing Charity is here to help everyone in print help their colleagues. It starts with a conversation: email helpline@theprintingcharity.org.uk for more.