Mental Health at work: Putting People first
06 FEBRUARY 2025
It’s easy to talk about “putting people first” and “prioritising mental health”, but what does this actually look like in a workplace striving to deliver meaningful initiatives to protect and promote mental health?
In an ‘always on’ world, where people can find themselves spending more time in work than at home, it is true to say work contributes significantly to how we feel each day. Likewise, circumstances at home cannot automatically switch off when we arrive at work, meaning the two are very much intertwined.
Mental health struggles can seriously compromise individual performance, affecting concentration, focus, and decision-making ability, all of which impacts workplace productivity and safety.
For people experiencing mental health issues, having a supportive workplace can contribute to recovery by providing social interaction, sense of purpose, and a space to share. This highlights why robust mental health support at work can no longer be considered a ‘nice to have’, but rather a duty of care, just as essential as the physical safety of the workforce.
So how can workplaces do more?
Ahead of Time to Talk day 2025, we caught up with three of Motive’s Mental Health First Aider team – HSEQ & People Director Kerry Scott, HR Team Lead Clair Petrie, and Technical Sales Manager Ben Gray, to discuss creating and sustaining a genuine people-first culture, and how companies need to go beyond surface-level to deliver worthy support for a resilient workforce.
Pictured L-R: Clair Petrie - Kerry Scott
Kerry joined Motive in 2016 and has watched the company flourish, experiencing significant headcount growth to over 340 employees across the world today:
Motive has grown so much but one constant has been our commitment to not just building a company but creating a community our team feel supported in and are proud to be part of.
Motive’s culture is defined by five core People values that our team lives by, one of which is ‘Wellness’. Mental health doesn’t discriminate, it can affect anyone, any time, regardless of their job title or circumstances and we want to build an environment where every colleague feels supported.
Motive was quick in its early days to implement tools to actively support mental health in the workplace.
Reflecting on this journey, Kerry continued:
One of our first steps was introducing Mental Health First Aiders across the business, providing a safe and approachable resource for anyone needing support. From there, we expanded our efforts to include awareness campaigns, the creation of a Health and Wellbeing e-portal, and training sessions to empower our team to recognise the signs of mental health challenges and to encourage early intervention.
Team Motive activities are hugely important too, allowing us to enjoy time together away from work, volunteering in the community, or getting outdoors for walks or bike rides as part of our ‘Move with Motive’ challenge.
Our initiatives continue to evolve because we know there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health. From Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to workshops and tailored resources, we’re dedicated to ensuring everyone in the Motive family has access to the support they need, no matter their role or situation. Mental health isn’t a standalone issue; it’s part of who we are as People, and at Motive, we’re committed to taking care of each other.
Motive has also partnered with local charity Men United, whose ‘Don’t Man Up, Speak Up’ campaign has been instrumental in helping us tackle the stigma associated with mental health. Their messaging aligns perfectly with Motive’s goal of normalising conversations about mental health and creating a culture where speaking up is seen as a strength, not a weakness.
Joining Motive in March 2024, Clair Petrie heads up the HR team. With a long background in recruitment, employee engagement, and employee relations, Clair has seen firsthand the impact of the multiple stressors faced in today’s world, a digital age of constant connectivity, presenteeism and “always-on” culture.
We all have mental health – it’s fluid and cyclical and is affected positively and negatively by many different sources. Our role is being able to identify the negative cycle early and ensuring we equip our team with the knowledge to ‘spot the signs’, and be able to signpost to a tangible, effective source of support.
Mental Health UK’s 2025 burnout report revealed 91% of UK adults reported experiencing high or extreme levels of pressure or stress last year, along with a 4% rise in the likelihood of younger generations (up to 44) saying they had needed to take time off through poor mental health.
Clair commented:
The 2025 burnout report encourages companies to acknowledge the impact of modern life on employee mental health and to change strategies accordingly. It shows high levels of stress in the workplace exist, and concerningly that younger generations are particularly vulnerable to experiencing stress and mental health challenges but can be less likely to make an approach for help.
We have had to adapt to address the ongoing effects of the COVID lockdowns. Young people now entering the workplace missed two years of being within a normal school setting, while isolated away from friends, and are now suddenly faced with entering a busy office or work site. Offering working from home, flexible working, work buddy systems, and mentoring can all help tackle some of these issues and have proven hugely beneficial across the Motive Group. Similarly, we want people to enjoy their days off and encourage everyone to switch off when they leave work, and observe a healthy work-life balance. Taking good care of themselves is the absolutely best thing they can do for themselves and that in turn benefits Motive.
Ben Gray has been with Motive since 2021 and as soon as he heard about the Mental Health First Aider Team wanted to be a part of it.
A huge advocate for mental health support, Ben is very clear that initiatives by any company should be proactive and have substance.
Pictured: Ben Gray
We asked why he chose to become a Motive Mental Health First Aider:
It sometimes feels the world where people were just kind to each other has disappeared, especially with social media and everything under a microscope. The amount of information we have to process day-to-day now is phenomenal.
I’ve been there where I have really struggled, and I just want to be there for somebody else if I can.
What does becoming a Mental Health First Aider involve?
Our UK team all attend a 2 day workshop-based course “Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace (Level 3) helping them learn how to identify and support mental health issues in the workplace.
The important thing to note about being a Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) is that you are there as an empathetic ear, not to solve the problem. What you can do is actively listen, and signpost people to accessing appropriate help. Great Mental Health First Aider attributes include empathy, resilience, being approachable, and the ability to genuinely listen. People aren’t necessarily looking to the first aider for answers - they just need to get it all out, often feeling better having shared their problem and talked through whatever is weighing on their mind.
Ben adds:
Being a Mental Health First Aider can be time-consuming and needs a lot of resilience; you have to make yourself very available, and you can never be fully prepared for what might come up in a conversation, but if I can improve a colleague’s day by just 1% then that’s time well spent.
I would urge anyone struggling in any way, take the step and reach out - asking for help isn’t giving up, it’s refusing to give up!
Kerry: What would you say to any organisations starting out, who may feel overwhelmed with how to implement mental health support?
It’s so easy, because all you have to do is care. Making sure your people know there is always an open door, with someone who will listen. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are not a huge investment by any means, straightforward to implement, and hugely beneficial in giving employees fast, confidential access to professional support.
Fostering a caring team culture is so important. Above all else, if you are fortunate to have a team who genuinely cares about each other, then you know even if they aren’t speaking to HR or accessing services, they are looking out for and talking to each other.
We don’t have all the answers, but we will continue to look at all the issues and work hard in finding ways to benefit and look out for our team.
We’d like to thank all our Global Mental Health First Aider Team who give up their time and provide phenomenal support across the Motive Offshore Group. If you are an employee reading this, please know this resource is in complete confidence and there is always someone available to talk to – see inhouse posters for details.
This Time to Talk day we urge everyone to take a minute to speak with a colleague - it can turn a bad day into a good one - and join the pledge to be more open about mental health.