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Home > Events > The elephant in the office: how to address alcohol and substance misuse at work

The elephant in the office: how to address alcohol and substance misuse at work

Date: 17/01/2025
Location: Virtual

The festive season is upon us and intending to bring festive cheers to us all. Regrettably, end of year is also a time when people face more challenges around alcohol, over-consumption and other behavioural dependencies.

Whether to celebrate, fit in, or cope, many turn to alcohol in their desire for joy, belonging, socialising or relieve anxiety, pain and stress.

This season coincides with many firms organising social gatherings, events and work parties, some of which are centred around alcohol consumption (e.g. Office “Christmas Drinks”).

After the indulgencies around the festive season and holidays, Dry January® is an opportunity for many to challenge themselves, go alcohol-free and unleash long-term change.

The DP’s Mental Health workstream would like to raise awareness of some of the complexities around these issues.

We are hosting a panel discussion around dependency behaviours and other substance abuse, and what member firms can do to raise awareness and support colleagues.

Virtual panel discussion with 4 experts designed to understand the effects that substance misuse, in particular around alcohol, has on both physical and mental health, and to discuss the effect that this has on a workplace.

WARNING: The content of this webinar may be emotionally challenging. We acknowledge that these topics can be deeply sensitive and may provoke strong emotions. Our goal is to educate and engage with the complexities of the human experience. If you find any of our content distressing, we encourage you to approach the event and its content with care.

The aims include to:

    • Demystify some of the concepts around addictions, dependency behaviours and reduce the stigma associated with it, so that more individuals suffering are willing to open up and seek help
    • Understand how language and understanding of the causes around these topics are evolving
    • Share the lived experience of a professional in the investments and savings industry, and highlight a road to recovery
    • Equip HR professionals with tools on how to address these types of issues when they arise
    • Highlight best practices as shared by the MindForward Alliance

Speakers will include:

    • Brian Heyworth: Chair of Mind Forward Alliance, and Managing partner and CEO of Lansdowne Partners
    • Poppy Jaman: Founder and Executive Vice Chair of Mind Forward Alliance and former CEO of City Mental Health Alliance and Mental Health First Aid England.
    • Dr Wolfgang Seidl: Partner, Workplace Health Consulting Leader, Global Mental Health Consulting Leader at Mercer Marsh Benefits, Trainer and Professional Speaker.
    • Max Cohen: Trainer, facilitator and therapist, from The Natural Psychiatrist.
    • MODERATOR: Dr Judith Mohring, organisational psychiatrist with 25 years’ experience in all aspects of mental health. She studied medicine at Cambridge and London universities.

In order to ensure confidentiality, please feel free to send us any questions in advance to [email protected]

Date: 17th January 2025
Time: 11:00am
Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Introducing the Speakers

Image of Brian Heyworth

Brian Heyworth - Chair of Mind Forward Alliance, and Managing partner and CEO of Lansdowne Partners

Image of Poppy Jaman

Poppy Jaman - Founder and Executive Vice Chair of Mind Forward Alliance and former CEO of City Mental Health Alliance and Mental Health First Aid England

Image of Dr Wolfgang Seidl

Dr Wolfgang Seidl - Partner, Workplace Health Consulting Leader, Global Mental Health Consulting Leader at Mercer Marsh Benefits, Trainer and Professional Speaker

Image of Max Cohen

Max Cohen - Trainer, facilitator and therapist, from The Natural Psychiatrist

Image of MODERATOR: Dr Judith Mohring

MODERATOR: Dr Judith Mohring - Organisational psychiatrist

Dr Judith Mohring has 25 years’ experience in all aspects of mental health. She studied medicine at Cambridge and London universities.

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