The conversation that changes everything: how managers can support mental health at work

Most managers aren’t mental health professionals, and they don’t need to be. What they do have (more than almost anyone else in someone’s life) is regular, everyday contact with that person while things are going wrong.

hat’s a genuine opportunity, not a burden, and it sits right at the heart of this year’s Mental Health Month theme: Together We Thrive.

A few things can make the biggest difference:

• Understand that mental health sits on a continuum, and that things like poorly managed change, unclear expectations or constant fatigue can push anyone along it. This isn’t about a handful of “vulnerable” people.
• Notice change early. A shift in how someone’s showing up (quieter, more withdrawn, less consistent) is often the first sign, well before anyone says anything out loud.
• Have the conversation. You don’t need the right clinical words. You need to ask, listen, and ask what would actually help.
• Offer real adjustments, not just sympathy. Flexibility, workload changes, or a quieter space to work can keep someone engaged instead of pushing them out.
• Support the return, not just the absence. Coming back after time off is its own hurdle; plan for it, don’t just wait for it to happen.
• Model it yourself. A manager who visibly protects their own balance gives their team permission to do the same.
• Know your role. Connect people to real support (a GP, an EAP, an employment consultant, or for NDIS participants, a Support Coordinator or counsellor) rather than trying to be their therapist.

For Liam, these aren’t just good principles for managers to follow. They’re lessons he has experienced himself and now brings to the way he supports others.

Liam came into employment services as a jobseeker himself, living with social anxiety, before someone noticed how naturally he supported the people around him. As CoAct’s 2026 Employment Consultant of the Year, that same instinct (noticing, checking in, not pushing) now shapes how he mentors every client.

Keep going, even when it feels hard. It is okay to have doubts or feel unsure.” (Liam)

Read Liam’s journey

Whether you’re a manager, HR lead, or business owner, our employer team can help you build the everyday habits that make these conversations easier to have. Reach out to CoAct today if you are seeking employment services. If someone on your team is an NDIS participant, our Support Coordination team can help provide the right support, while our counselling and psychology service, Nurah,can offer more specialised support when it’s needed.