We don't often pause to think about the fact that mental health, stress, and mental illness can mean different things to different people. Why? Because that's not something that we've all been taught to do, and that's ok.

The generations that came before us, and even many of the current generation, are still learning about this. How? Because of the willingness and bravery of many people to talk about it, and the realisation that not talking about it was unsustainable.

The meanings and beliefs about the concepts above which people hold come to fruition from a variety of factors. How one was raised, cultural background, previous experiences of sharing around mental health, the county they live in, and many additional reasons.

Despite our differences, what we do have in common is this: the human need to feel heard, understood, and accepted...even at work. Or rather, especially at work. While there are a lot of factors that go into this statement I just said e.g., industry, specific organisation, cultural nuances , it doesn't make it any less true.

Why this is a crucial discussion

I've said it 4,568 times and I'll say it again here: the brain is an organ, like any other organ in the body.

As such, that organ has a healthy state, stress state, and illness state. The brain deserves the same social acceptance, understanding and care that would be afforded to any other organ that is stressed or ill. The complication? Some people are hesitant to discuss that organ, especially at work, because that organ governs who they are, their personality, how they view themselves, the world, their environment, and how they interact with others.

That alone makes the case for why we should, must, and need to talk about mental health at work. Our brains provide the amazing foundation and building blocks of who we are, and to think this should be 'left out of the workplace' is thankfully a sentiment that's becoming a thought of the past. Slowly, but surely.

I want to be quite clear: the mental health at work conversation goes two ways. The person who is the supporter, and the person who is the sharer.

How you share matters

While there is a lot of discussion around the best ways to support someone around mental health at work, it's equally important that people speak up about their own mental health in a constructive way. The main reasons? To accurately communicate what your needs are, describe your experiences, and where you'd like things to go after the conversation to name just a few. While there are many ways to talk about your mental health at work, here are five tips I'd like to share with you from my upcoming book:

1. Be very honest with yourself - are you ready to talk about this at work?

If you feel ready to talk about your mental health at work, fantastic! You're about to take a massive step to help normalise this discussion at work. However, while being action-orientated is great around this topic, I want to make it crystal clear that if you're experiencing chronic stress, emotional upset, or a mental health condition, you don't have to tell people at work.

You are under no obligation to share this information, regardless of whether you are keen to progress the mental health conversation at work. That information is your information, and you can choose whether or not to share it. You aren't doing something wrong if you choose to keep it to yourself. Perhaps you're going through a rough time and do want to share with your colleagues or boss, but don't have the words yet - that's ok too. There are many people who want to talk about their mental health, but can't organise their thoughts yet or may just need a more time. Try to find a balance: while you don't need to rush this process, don't be afraid to give yourself a little nudge out of the nest. Consider asking yourself the following questions to help you assess your readiness & motivation:

• Why do you want to share about your mental health at work?
• What will it change for you at work by sharing this information?
• What do you want to get out of these conversations specifically?