Mind Matters

10/06/2026

Su***de: The imbalance in the hope narrative – and why it must change... https://mindmatterstraining.co.uk/su***de-the-imbalance-in-the-hope-narrative-and-why-it-must-change/

Content warning: This piece discusses su***de, su***de prevention, and lived‑experience stories. If you need support, you can search for help in your area via Hub of Hope https://hubofhope.co.uk/

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10/06/2026

Managers are the frontline of workplace wellbeing - and the right training can transform how confidently and effectively they support their teams.

We deliver the i‑act Understanding, Managing & Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace course for . This accredited programme is designed to equip leaders with the practical tools, knowledge and confidence to create mentally healthier, safer workplaces.

Why train in i-ACT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmihR2tt6BU

Aims & Objectives — the i‑act course for managers empowers you to:

- Build a stronger understanding of mental health and wellbeing in the workplace
- Recognise early signs that a colleague may need help or further support
- Use practical, evidence‑based tools to promote positive wellbeing and build resilience
- Confidently connect with colleagues who may be experiencing a mental health or wellbeing issue
- Access a comprehensive toolkit, resource pack and signposting to 95+ organisations

Every manager receives the 168‑page evidence‑based i‑act manual, packed with over 50 tools and 225+ reputable references researched at Doctorate level.

What you gain:

- Certification as an approved i‑act manager
- Free access to the UK‑wide Wellbeing Community
- Ongoing access to online i‑act manager resources
- Accreditation from the Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Registration valid for 3 years

If you want your managers to lead with confidence, compassion and clarity - this course is a powerful investment in your people and your culture.

Course dates and booking https://mindmatterstraining.co.uk/course_category/i-act-training-for-managers-employees/

09/06/2026

Creating truly inclusive workplaces doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when people step forward with curiosity, compassion, and the confidence to challenge outdated narratives. If you’re ready to be that person in your organisation, this one‑day online workshop is for you.

On Thursday 25th June, 9.30am–4.30pm GMT we’re hosting our CPD accredited Thrive Neurodiversity in the Workplace Champion training - a practical, strengths‑focused workshop designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to influence positive change.

Across the day, we’ll explore:

- What neurodiversity really means in a workplace context
- How to recognise and reduce barriers for neurodivergent colleagues
- Strengths‑based approaches that move beyond deficit narratives
- Practical adjustments, communication strategies, and culture‑shaping actions
- The Champion role - what it is, what it isn’t, and how to do it well

Whether you’re in HR, leadership, EDI, or simply passionate about creating a workplace where every mind can thrive, this training will help you build confidence and clarity in your role.

Delegate cost: £200 + VAT (discount for multiple bookings)
Format: Live online workshop via Zoom
Date: Thursday 25th June
Time: 9.30am–4.30pm GMT

If you’re ready to champion neuro‑affirming practice and help shape a more inclusive future at work, we’d love to have you join us.

09/06/2026

The newly published Neurodivergent Entrepreneurship in the UK (2026) report is one of the most comprehensive pieces of research we’ve seen on the experiences, barriers and opportunities facing neurodivergent founders - and it’s a landmark moment for the UK’s enterprise landscape.

Drawing on insights from over 600 , the report makes one thing abundantly clear: the barriers we face are not about capability or ambition - they are about systems that were never designed with us in mind.

Some of the findings are striking:

76% of neurodivergent founders start a business to work in a way that genuinely suits them
65% say confidence and self‑belief were major early barriers
61% have avoided starting or scaling a business due to systemic obstacles
79% experience workload management or burnout challenges
Only 7% feel consistently understood by the businesses they trade with

I was pleased to be interviewed as part of this research, adding my perspective as an autistic entrepreneur, trainer and author. It’s encouraging to see lived experience meaningfully represented - not as an afterthought, but as a core part of the evidence base.

What I welcome most is the shift in focus. This report doesn’t ask neurodivergent founders to “fit better” into existing structures. Instead, it calls for better-designed systems across business support, finance, procurement, Access to Work, and digital tools — systems that recognise different ways of thinking, processing and communicating.

Key recommendations include:

Designing neurodivergent‑aware business support as standard
Reforming Access to Work for self‑employed founders
Reducing administrative complexity across all business-facing systems
Creating accessible finance pathways
Investing in neurodivergent‑led peer communities
Recognising AI and digital tools as modern reasonable adjustments
Embedding neurodivergent-friendly procurement standards
Establishing a national evidence programme to track progress

For those of us working in neurodiversity, mental health, and inclusive enterprise, this report is both validating and energising. It captures what so many founders have been saying for years - and it provides a clear, practical roadmap for change.

If the UK is serious about unlocking entrepreneurial potential, then designing systems that work for neurodivergent thinkers isn’t a “nice to have”. It’s an economic imperative.

Read the full report: Neurodivergent Entrepreneurship in the UK – June 2026 https://lilaccentre.com/neurodiversity-and-entrepreneurship

09/06/2026

**CPD Accredited** Neurodiversity in the Workplace Training for Managers — 30th June & 1st July 2026

Creating and supporting neurodiverse teams is both essential and rewarding - and at times, challenging. Many managers want to communicate more clearly, build an inclusive culture, and understand how to support every member of their team. This workshop is designed specifically for them.

On 30th June (full day) and 1st July (morning) we’re hosting our next Thrive Neurodiversity in the Workplace Training for Managers, which will include our Awareness webinar as part of the learning journey.

The course will be delivered by Autistic author, speaker, and trainer Jane McNeice, bringing lived experience and professional expertise that creates a uniquely authentic learning environment.

Across the sessions, managers will learn how to:

- Learn what neurodiversity is and how neurodiverse workplaces are essential
- Recognise key neurodivergent conditions and the strengths and challenges associated with each
- Understand the impact of myths, preconceptions, and discrimination faced by neurominorities
- Understand executive functioning and experience what EF challenges can feel like
- Identify anxiety, meltdowns, closedowns, and sensory needs - and respond supportively
- Improve communication, reduce misunderstandings, and prevent low morale
- Create a more inclusive, sensory‑safe, and psychologically safe workplace
- Make meaningful reasonable adjustments and understand the policies and legislation that support them.

The session goes further to explore real‑life case studies, contemporary attitudes, and practical long‑term strategies for supporting neurodivergent colleagues.

If you want your managers to lead with clarity, compassion, and confidence - and to understand how diversity can truly be an asset - this training will give them the tools to do exactly that.

Delegate fee £250+VAT
Booking link https://mindmatterstraining.co.uk/courses/neurodiversity-in-the-workplace-for-managers-workshop/ **Please note delegates must be able to attend both dates**

09/06/2026

Autistic communication isn’t broken. It’s simply built for a world that rarely pauses long enough to listen.

Autistic people communicate with clarity, honesty, precision, and intention. Many speak through direct language, pattern-based thinking, deep focus, or non‑verbal expression. None of these are flaws. They’re simply different communication styles - ones that thrive in environments where people take the time to understand them.

The problem isn’t autistic communication.
The problem is a society that:

• rushes conversations instead of valuing thoughtful pauses
• prioritises small talk over meaningful clarity
• expects everyone to communicate the same way
• labels difference as deficiency

When autistic communication is understood, something beautiful happens:

• conversations become more honest
• relationships become more grounded
• misunderstandings shrink
• autistic people feel seen rather than scrutinised

Autistic communication is not a glitch in the system. It’s a different operating language - one that works brilliantly when others are willing to meet it halfway.

If the world slowed down, listened more carefully, and valued diverse communication styles, autistic people wouldn’t be told to “fix” how they speak. They’d be recognised for the depth, sincerity, and insight they bring.

Autistic communication isn’t broken.
The world just needs to learn how to listen.

08/06/2026

For too long, the world has treated autistic people as problems to manage rather than humans to support. But when autistic people are genuinely understood, respected, and given the right environment, something powerful happens: they thrive!

08/06/2026

**CPD Accredited** Neurodiversity in the Workplace Training for Managers — 30th June & 1st July 2026

Creating and supporting neurodiverse teams is both essential and rewarding - and at times, challenging. Many managers want to communicate more clearly, build an inclusive culture, and understand how to support every member of their team. This workshop is designed specifically for them.

On 30th June (full day) and 1st July (morning) we’re hosting our next Thrive Neurodiversity in the Workplace Training for Managers, which will include our Awareness webinar as part of the learning journey.

The course will be delivered by Autistic author, speaker, and trainer Jane McNeice, bringing lived experience and professional expertise that creates a uniquely authentic learning environment.

Across the sessions, managers will learn how to:

- Learn what neurodiversity is and how neurodiverse workplaces are essential
- Recognise key neurodivergent conditions and the strengths and challenges associated with each
- Understand the impact of myths, preconceptions, and discrimination faced by neurominorities
- Understand executive functioning and experience what EF challenges can feel like
- Identify anxiety, meltdowns, closedowns, and sensory needs - and respond supportively
- Improve communication, reduce misunderstandings, and prevent low morale
- Create a more inclusive, sensory‑safe, and psychologically safe workplace
- Make meaningful reasonable adjustments and understand the policies and legislation that support them.

The session goes further to explore real‑life case studies, contemporary attitudes, and practical long‑term strategies for supporting neurodivergent colleagues.

If you want your managers to lead with clarity, compassion, and confidence - and to understand how diversity can truly be an asset - this training will give them the tools to do exactly that.

Delegate fee £250+VAT

Booking link https://lnkd.in/er3A5q37 **Please note delegates must be able to attend both dates**

08/06/2026

Every year, more than 7,000 people in the UK die by su***de - the biggest killer of young people. Yet over 70% of those who die were not in contact with mental health services. One of the biggest barriers is stigma.

Stigma stops people speaking up.

Stigma stops families asking the question.

Stigma stops people seeking help.

Despite clear commitments in the Su***de Prevention Strategy, the UK has never run a national public health campaign to reduce the stigma of su***de. We’ve done it for HIV/AIDS, drink‑driving, smoking and COVID - and it worked. It’s time we did the same for su***de.

Philip Pirie has submitted a proposal to government calling for a national, multi‑year, evidence‑based campaign to normalise conversations about su***de and save lives.

If you believe this matters - and that silence is costing lives - please add your name to the petition and share widely:

👉 https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/768225

Every signature strengthens the case for action. Thank you.

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Fund a multi-year campaign which should include mass media, social media, workplace toolkits, promotion in schools and universities, media collaboration and clear support signposting. Over five years, this should include development, pilots, evaluation and targeted campaigns for high risk groups.

08/06/2026

A proactive approach to mental health isn’t just good practice - it strengthens culture, performance, and retention.

Our next i‑ACT Training for Employees & Front‑Line Workers takes place on 1 July, 1–5pm, offering a structured, accredited pathway for staff to build confidence in supporting wellbeing.

Participants qualify as 'Registered i‑ACT Practitioners', gaining:

A robust evidence‑based framework
A 156‑page manual and toolkit
Practical tools for early intervention
Signposting to 95+ organisations

Discounts available for multiple bookings - ideal for teams and services looking to embed a consistent approach.

Course information and booking: mindmatterstraining.co.uk/courses/i-act-course-employees-front-line-workers/https://mindmatterstraining.co.uk/courses/i-act-course-employees-front-line-workers/