Mike Lawrence Wellbeing & Workplace Management Consultant

06/08/2026

Mental Health Support in Banks and Libraries: Does This Show a Government That Cares?

The Government has announced plans for 100 new community mental health centres and 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments, calling it the “biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation”.

Andy Burnham says the new centres could be a “lifeline” for thousands of people currently waiting months for help.

On the face of it, this sounds like very positive news.

We hear so much about long waiting lists, overstretched services and people being unable to get support until they are already in crisis.

Placing walk-in mental health support in libraries, former banks and other community locations could make it easier for people to ask for help earlier, in places that feel familiar and accessible.

But the real test will be what happens when someone walks through the door.

Who will staff these centres?

Will this create new jobs for qualified mental health professionals, counsellors, peer-support workers and community organisations?

Or will existing services, already under pressure, simply be expected to do more with the same people and resources?

Will people receive meaningful, ongoing support—or another assessment, leaflet and place on a waiting list?

This could be a major step forward and show genuine care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across England.

But without the right staffing, funding and accountability, it could also become another strong headline that fails to deliver in practice.

I hope it succeeds. The ambition is welcome.

Now we need to see the detail.

What do you think—genuine progress or another political soundbite?

Full article linked below. https://www.itv.com/news/2026-08-06/walk-in-mental-health-support-centres-to-open-in-banks-and-libraries-in-england

The latest ITV weather forecast for the UK | ITV National News

04/08/2026

Should protecting mental health become a clearer legal duty—not simply good practice?

I read online recently that Darlington campaigner Josh Biggins has launched a petition calling for a new Mental Health Duty Law.

His proposal goes beyond the workplace, calling for organisations across employment, education, healthcare, housing, justice and public services to take greater responsibility for preventing mental harm.

This is not a new conversation I remember
Former MP Dean Russell previously introduced a Private Member’s Bill seeking to make mental health first aid part of workplace first-aid requirements.
That Bill did not become law—but the question has not gone away.

Employers already have responsibilities for health, safety and welfare. Yet too often workplace mental health action begins only after someone reaches crisis point, takes long-term absence or leaves altogether.
Policies are not enough.

Training without meaningful action is not enough.
We need managers who can recognise the warning signs, psychologically safer workplaces and earlier intervention before pressure becomes harm.

I agree with Josh having first-hand experience from family, friends and clients. What do you think? Should the law place a clearer duty on organisations to prevent mental harm—not merely respond after it happens?

Read the article: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/darlington-man-launches-petition-law-190000237.html

Josh Biggins, 29, has launched a petition, looking to require workplaces, schools, healthcare, housing, justice and public services to proactively protect mental health.

28/07/2026

You may not be lazy. You may be exhausted.

I was recently in Gainsborough delivering a couple of workshops on coping with change, and I introduced the group to TATT.

And no, not “tat” as in the northern word for junk.

TATT means Tired All The Time.

It got a few smiles, but the issue itself is very real.

Many people are not simply tired because of one poor night’s sleep.

They may be carrying:

• Constant change
• Heavy workloads
• Financial pressure
• Restructuring or redundancy worries
• Family responsibilities
• Emotional stress
• Uncertainty about the future

When someone is running on empty, it can show up as irritability, forgetfulness, low motivation, poor concentration or withdrawing from others.

We can be quick to judge someone as lazy, difficult or disengaged.

Sometimes, they are simply exhausted.

A better place to start is with a conversation:

“I’ve noticed you don’t seem yourself lately. How are things?”

Many organisations are currently facing change, restructuring, redundancies and an uncertain future.

If you are personally struggling with the pressure, or you are responsible for leadership, people development or employee wellbeing, send me a message.

Sometimes one conversation can help you see things more clearly, identify the next step and prevent exhaustion from becoming burnout.

You do not have to wait until breaking point before asking for support.

16/07/2026

ENGLAND LOST THE SEMI-FINAL. DID WE LOSE OUR PERSPECTIVE TOO? ⚽️

More than 24 million people watched England lose 2–1 to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final.

Two days later, the disappointment is still raw.

I’m currently in Scunthorpe delivering a two-day Mental Health First Aid course, and naturally the match came up in conversation.

The frustration.
The criticism.
The calls for Thomas Tuchel to be sacked.
The belief that someone else would have made different decisions and delivered a different result.

But what gives us the right to believe England should automatically win?

“Football’s coming home” is a brilliant rallying cry, but it is not a guarantee.

One participant shared that, in Poland, players reaching a World Cup semi-final would likely return home as heroes.

It offered a very different perspective.

England’s players gave everything for their country. They carried the hopes of millions, performed under extraordinary pressure and fell short against a better team on the night.

That hurts.

But disappointment should never become abuse.

These players are human beings, sons, brothers, fathers and role models watched by children across the country.

Young boys and girls are learning from how we respond.

Are we teaching them that effort only matters when you win?

That finishing among the best four teams in the world is failure?

That support disappears the moment someone falls short?

We talk a lot about resilience in sport, but resilience is not only required from the players.

Sometimes, supporters need it too.

The real test of loyalty is not how loudly we celebrate victory.

It is how we respond when hope turns into heartbreak.

They gave their all.
They fell short.
They still deserve our respect.

What do we teach the next generation when support turns into anger?

Before posting that comment or joining the pile-on, pause for a moment and ask:

Is this criticism helping, or is it simply adding to the pressure?

Let’s show the next generation that support, perspective and respect still matter — especially when the result hurts.

14/07/2026

People Are Still Showing Up. That Doesn’t Mean They’re Okay.

This month’s newsletter looks at the pressure people carry while still replying, delivering, smiling and keeping things moving.

The hot weather has been part of it, but this is not really about the weather.

It is about tired managers, stretched teams, poor sleep, change, uncertainty, burnout risk, and the danger of confusing “still functioning” with “coping well”.

Inside the July edition, I look at how pressure shows up before crisis point, what managers can realistically notice, and why recovery has to be part of how we keep going, not a reward for finishing everything.

If this feels close to what you are seeing in your own business or team, I’m also delivering a practical half-day Chamber workshop:

📍 Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber HQ
📅 29 July 2026
🕘 Half-day workshop
🎟 Only 6 places left
Learn how to lead well under pressure
For owners, directors and managers who want practical tools to manage stress, support their people and lead with more confidence.

👉 Read the July edition here:
https://mikellawrence.kit.com/posts/it-s-hot-out-there-and-not-just-the-weather

👉 Book the Chamber workshop here:
https://brchamber.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c4bcec22f49000f6ef5ae9fd&id=efb7aad58e&e=c0cf2b31f9

10/07/2026

Last night, I had the pleasure of joining , Andy and Jane McPhillips once again on the Paying It Forward show on Crags Radio.

With an amber weather warning outside, the atmosphere in the studio was thankfully much more relaxed — helped by the absolute luxury of air conditioning! 🥵❄️

For two hours, we enjoyed honest conversation, plenty of laughter and some brilliant community interaction.

We spoke about mental health and wellbeing, creating new opportunities, side hustles, earning an additional income through UW, and the importance of supporting one another through changing times.

What made the evening even more special was hearing from people listening in and texting the show with their thoughts and experiences. 💬

A special mention to Jane, who has built a supportive community of people exploring ways to create a second income alongside their existing work and responsibilities.

For anyone curious about creating an additional income and looking for an informal, no-pressure conversation, Jane is a great person to speak to.

A huge thank you to Natalie, Andy, Jane and everyone who listened, contributed and shared their thoughts.

A brilliant evening and a powerful reminder that when communities connect, conversations can become opportunities — and opportunities can change lives. 🤝

What does paying it forward mean to you?

06/07/2026

Silverstone delivered — even if the result didn’t… unless you were a Lando fan. 🏁

As a Lewis Hamilton fan, I was hoping for a final one-lap sprint after the safety car.

But the race finished under the safety car.

Add in Lewis’ 5-second penalty for reacting too quickly at the start, and it wasn’t quite the ending thousands of Lewis fans wanted.

That said, Lewis still made the podium in third, adding to his outright record for the most podium finishes at Silverstone, having stepped on the rostrum an incredible 15 times at the venue across his Formula 1 career.

Still, what a day.

Great weather.
A brilliant race-day atmosphere.
Over 175,000 fans on Sunday.
Entertainment from the Silverstone Race Makers in the stands.
Over 6 miles walked and more than 12,000 steps clocked up.

But the real resilience test came afterwards.

Nearly two hours sat in the car park, people tired, frustrated and wanting to get home.

And to be fair, most people stayed calm.

That’s the bit that interested me.

It’s easy to talk about patience when everything is moving.
The real test is when you’re boxed in, tired, hot, and going nowhere fast.

I’ve been going to Silverstone for nearly 20 years, and every year the event gets bigger, slicker and more commercial.

But when you increase the numbers, you also increase the pressure points.

That’s true in business too.

Growth is exciting, but growth without flow creates friction.

Whether it’s an event, a workplace, a team or a customer experience, the question is not just:

How many people can we attract?

It’s also:

Can the system cope when everyone wants to move at the same time?

Silverstone was still a fantastic day out.

03/07/2026

Feel Good Friday ⚽🎾🏎️

Millions of people will celebrate someone else’s victory this weekend…

But when was the last time you celebrated your own?

This weekend, many of us will be watching Wimbledon, Silverstone and England in the World Cup.

Some of us will be celebrating.
Some of us may be disappointed.
But most of us will be emotionally invested.

That’s the power of sport.

But some of the greatest victories happen quietly.

My own victory this week?

I successfully delivered another two-day Mental Health First Aid course online to seven learners.

At the start, several shared that they lacked confidence supporting someone experiencing poor mental health.

By the end, they felt more equipped, reassured and confident to have those conversations.

For me, that’s a victory worth celebrating. 🏆

So before you cheer on your favourite tennis player, racing driver or football team this weekend…

What’s one victory you’re proud of this week?

Share it below 👇

Happy Feel Good Friday.

30/06/2026

This Week in Mental Health: What the Stories Reveal

City A.M. recently ran the headline:

“Heathrow launches mental health service for locals affected by third runway.”

Whatever your view on the runway expansion, this story highlights something many people know only too well:

Uncertainty creates anxiety.

When people don’t know how change may affect their home, work, routine or future, the emotional impact is real.

And this isn’t just about airports.

It happens in workplaces too.

Restructures.
Redundancies.
New systems.
AI.
Leadership changes.

The good news is that more organisations are now recognising the need to support people through change — whether through EAPs, counselling, webinars, workshops or external specialists.

I was only speaking recently with an organisation about a forthcoming Coping with Change workshop.

One of their concerns was how the message would land — pardon the pun — with people who may already be feeling anxious about future uncertainty.

That’s the key point.

People don’t just need updates.

They need honesty, reassurance, space to ask questions, and support before things become overwhelming.

Are we simply managing change…

or supporting the people who have to live through it?

Heathrow has launched a mental health support service for residents affected by the third runway expansion

18/06/2026

I’ve written a short review of Brain.fm, a functional music app designed for focus, relaxation, meditation and sleep.
I use tools like this as part of a broader conversation about focus, boundaries and sustainable work habits. It is not mental health care or a substitute for workplace support, but it may be useful if you want a structured alternative to ordinary background music.
Read the review here: https://mikelawrence.co.uk/brain-fm-review-focus-switch-off/

An honest Brain.fm review from UK workplace wellbeing consultant Mike Lawrence. A practical look at functional music for focus, relaxation, meditation and sleep.