The stigma of mental health

There are a range of drivers that apply pressure to senior leaders to project a façade of being super-human archetypes of great mental health. The confidence of Boards and colleagues, family wealth, legacy, and status can all feel dependent on maintaining an impossible invulnerable image. It is worth remembering that it has only been 10 years since legislation in the UK (Mental Health Discrimination Act 2013) withdrew the right from companies to remove directors by declaring them incapable of making a decision because of a mental health condition. In that context it is easy to imagine how this historical, existential threat has continued to cast a shadow into the psyche of modern-day directors.

A recent report by BUPA[1] illustrated how high earners continue to seek maladaptive or informal solutions for their mental health, rather than facing the supposedly stigmatising step of seeking professional help. They found that 7 out of 10 UK high net worth individuals (HNWIs with over £1million salary) experienced poor mental health during the pandemic, and that 6 out of 10 surveyed globally had resorted to maladaptive coping behaviours such as alcohol use and gambling rather than accessing the professional help they required. Despite the crucial role that the HNWIs hold, even where steps had been taken to address poor mental health this generally only consisted of informal measures like speaking to family.

That executives may well not wish to disclose details of their health perhaps makes it unsurprising that executive mental health is a poorly researched area.

Many companies are attempting to de-stigmatise mental health by prioritising wellbeing and good mental health at work. However, such efforts universally tend to focus on employees and not at all on executives.

[1] BUPA Global. Executive Wellbeing Index. Last accessed online 21.5.2023. [Available at]:   https://www.bupaglobal.com/en/your-wellbeing/our-research/wellbeing-index