Manchester Counselling Editorial Team
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS WORKPLACE CULTURE, REALLY?
Workplace culture isn’t a slogan on the wall or a perk in the contract. It’s the lived experience of how people behave, communicate, and relate to one another day to day.
Key elements of culture that affect mental health include:
Leadership style
Openness around mental health conversations
Respect for work-life boundaries
Peer support and camaraderie
How success and mistakes are handled
According to the HSE, 1.8 million UK workers reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2023/24. Toxic culture—marked by blame, pressure, and poor communication—is a major contributor.
SIGNS YOUR WORK CULTURE MAY BE AFFECTING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Not all unhealthy environments are loud or aggressive. Sometimes the damage is subtle: being sidelined in meetings, unclear expectations, or chronic overwork masked as dedication.
You may be impacted by toxic culture if you experience:
Fear of speaking up or making mistakes
Feeling isolated or unsupported
Pressure to work through breaks, illness, or holidays
Confusion about roles or expectations
Chronic feelings of guilt, stress, or inadequacy
A 2025 Spill report found that UK companies lost £56 billion in productivity last year due to poor mental health—highlighting that psychological safety isn’t just a wellness issue, it’s a business one.
BUILDING A HEALTHIER WORK ENVIRONMENT
Creating a healthier culture isn’t the job of one person—but everyone plays a role.
For employees:
Be clear about your needs and limits
Seek allies or mentors you trust
Document ongoing issues and speak up if safe to do so
Protect time for recovery and personal life
For leaders and managers:
Model vulnerability and openness
Create regular check-ins that aren’t just about tasks
Respect out-of-hours boundaries
Reward collaboration and curiosity—not just output
The Mental Health Foundation recommends fostering a culture of trust, autonomy and transparency as the foundation of workplace wellbeing.
WHEN TO SEEK EXTERNAL SUPPORT
Sometimes the culture isn’t something you can fix from within—especially if efforts to raise concerns are ignored or punished. If your workplace is harming your mental health and change isn’t possible, it’s okay to explore other options.
Speaking to a therapist can help you:
Validate your experience
Regain clarity and confidence
Plan next steps—whether that’s a conversation, boundaries, or career move
Burnout, anxiety, and emotional fatigue are serious—whatever the source. You don’t have to endure them in silence.
At Manchester Counselling, we understand how deeply workplace culture can affect your mental health. Whether you’re navigating a toxic team or trying to rebuild your confidence after burnout, our therapist-matching service connects you with someone who gets it.
You don’t have to change your entire company to begin taking care of yourself. One step—one conversation—can be the turning point.
HSE. (2024). Work-related stress, depression or anxiety statistics.
Spill. (2025). UK Workplace Mental Health Statistics.
Mental Health Foundation. (2024). Mental health in the workplace.
Verve Healthcare. (2025). What employers can learn from the Mental Health UK Burnout Report.
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