MARIE CLAIRE: How to really talk about your mental health

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‘The best person to talk to initially is your line manager,’ says says Professor Cary Cooper, author of Wellbeing at Work and Professor of Organisational Psychology at the Alliance Manchester Business School. ‘However, that boss has to be a person that you feel you can talk to. If your boss is not a good listener, or you know that he or she is not a very tolerant person and won’t listen to you then think about going to HR instead.’

Any conversation you have with HR is confidential by law – but if you’re speaking with your line manager instead then make it clear if you don’t want anyone else to know. It’s up to you to give as much or as little detail as you want – there’s no obligation to reveal more than you’re comfortable with. However, Dr Cooper says it can be helpful to be honest and open. ‘I think it’s very worthwhile telling them what’s going on in your life. Think through what would help you in the context of work,’ says Cooper.’