Let’s be honest: we talk a lot about targets and results, but what about what fuels all that? With Men’s Health Month almost over, we’re shifting the spotlight onto something we don’t talk about enough – mental health in the workplace.
We tend to overlook how mental health directly affects productivity. Stressed-out, burnt-out employees don’t create brilliance – they’re just trying to survive the day. The trouble is, many don’t even realise the toll it’s taking. The ‘keep calm and carry on’ culture has taught people to power through, often at the cost of their wellbeing. Missed deadlines, lack of motivation are all signs something’s off.
Kibsons CEO Halima Jumani puts it simply: “Mental health in the workplace isn’t one-dimensional, and neither should our approach to it be. At Kibsons, we’ve seen firsthand how mental wellness and business performance go hand in hand. When people feel heard and supported, they naturally perform better. Collaboration and morale go up and the entire culture shifts.”
She adds, “This investment in people, investing the time, the flexibility, the willingness to meet them where they are, isn’t just good ethics, it’s smart business. Because when you create a workplace where people feel genuinely cared for, the return is loyalty, better outputs, and a team that’s willing to go the extra mile.”
Inside and outside the office walls, it’s still difficult, especially for men, to talk about what they’re going through. We need to start promoting a culture where it’s okay to say, “I’m not okay.”
The UAE-born podcast Man vs Mind, which recently broke into the global charts, is tackling this head-on. They’ve been especially active this month, sharing honest, often unfiltered conversations around men’s mental health.
J, one of the presenters, shares: “It’s the stigmatisation of mental health, and that you’re shown to be weak if you’re struggling. In actual fact, that’s not the case at all. Most people struggle on a day-to-day basis, whether it’s money worries, work stress or body image. And not feeling like you’re able to talk about it is the biggest barrier.”
His co-host Tim agrees: “This is a generational thing, a sort of generational trauma – going back decades. Men were taught to be stoic, to keep things in. If you look at social media or films, there’s still this image of the ‘ideal man’ who doesn’t cry, doesn’t falter. But it’s mad when you think about it. I actually feel my best after a proper cry. It means I’ve processed something instead of burying it.”
So, as June comes to a close, let this be a reminder: mental health isn’t a monthly trend. It’s an ongoing conversation – at work, at home, with friends, with ourselves. Watch this space as we continue at Esquire this conversation.
