Supporting Mental Health in Our Workplaces

As a new year begins, many businesses reflect on growth, targets and fresh opportunities. But for thousands of people across Ireland, the New Year can also bring renewed anxiety, financial pressure and emotional strain — particularly after the challenges of Christmas and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

For employers, managers and colleagues, this period presents an important opportunity: to recognise distress early, to respond with confidence, and to create safer, more supportive workplaces.

📊 Why the New Year Matters

While Christmas often receives the most attention, research and service data consistently show that emotional distress and suicide risk can increase in the weeks following the holiday period, particularly in January and early spring.

Contributing factors include:

• Financial pressure after Christmas spending
• Return-to-work stress and performance anxiety
• Reduced social contact and darker winter days
• Feelings of disappointment, isolation or hopelessness

In Ireland, suicide remains a significant public health issue, affecting families, workplaces and communities across every sector. Many people who struggle do not seek professional help — but they do show warning signs in everyday settings, including at work.

🏢 The Role of SMEs

Small and medium-sized enterprises are uniquely placed to make a difference. In SMEs:

• Teams are often closer-knit
• Changes in behaviour are more noticeable
• Conversations feel more personal

However, many people still hesitate to intervene — not because they don’t care, but because they don’t feel equipped.

That’s where training matters.

🎓 Training That Saves Lives

Ohana.ie provides suicide awareness and prevention training designed to give people the confidence to act, not the fear of “saying the wrong thing”.

The training focuses on:

• Recognising warning signs
• Having supportive conversations
• Asking direct but compassionate questions
• Knowing when and how to refer someone for help

To date, 1,479,071 people have taken Ohana.ie training, making it one of the most widely accessed suicide prevention education programmes available.

This reach demonstrates a simple truth: when people are given the right tools, they step up.

💬 Show You Care. Ask the Question. Make the Call.

Ohana’s message is clear and practical:

Show you care. Ask the question. Make the call.

This isn’t about becoming a counsellor — it’s about:

• Checking in
• Listening without judgement
• Being willing to ask how someone is really doing
• Helping connect them to support when needed

In workplaces, these moments can be life-changing.

🤝 A Safer New Year Starts With Awareness

As we move into the New Year, businesses have an opportunity to:

• Include mental health and suicide awareness in training plans
• Empower staff at every level
• Demonstrate genuine care for employee wellbeing
• Reduce stigma and encourage early support

Investing in training isn’t just good for people — it’s good for organisations, culture and long-term sustainability.

👉 To learn more about suicide awareness training and how your organisation can get involved, visit www.ohana.ie/