Why Mental Health Training for Managers Fails Without the CEO

One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned after delivering mental health training for managers in dozens of organisations is this: leadership presence matters.

If you want to create real change in your workplace culture, the CEO can’t be absent from the process. And when it comes to something as crucial as employee mental health, their involvement can make or break the impact.

🎧 In this episode, I share a real-life story from when we delivered mental health training for over 200 managers at Sofology—and the game-changing difference it made when their CEO, Sally, showed up for every single session.

When the CEO Leads from the Front, Everyone Follows

This was online mental health training for managers delivered across multiple sites, with managers at every level joining in. And while Sally didn’t say much during the sessions, her presence was felt.

Her message was clear: this matters.

Every person in a management role was expected to attend. It wasn’t optional. It wasn’t just “nice to have.” And that commitment rippled across the organisation. Store managers were talking. Team leaders were engaging. The post-training buzz was real.

People were speaking the same language. Mental health wasn’t a taboo subject. It had a place in everyday conversation.

But What Happens When the CEO Doesn’t Attend?

I’ve seen the flip side too. Many times.

The CEO signs off on the budget, maybe even champions the initiative in theory, but doesn’t attend a single session. Nor do the senior execs. And trust me, people notice.

It sends a quiet message:
"This isn’t for us. It’s for them."
"It’s not that important."
"We're too busy."

The irony? These are the very leaders managing their own teams. The ones whose emotional presence (or absence) has the biggest impact. When they’re not part of the conversation, it fractures the message and dilutes the power of the programme.

Mental Health Training Isn’t Just a Tick-Box Exercise

It’s not about downloading information. It’s about modelling behaviour. Creating psychological safety. Building emotional fluency. And most of all, creating a culture of trust and connection.

That starts at the top.

When leaders show up with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to learn, it sends a powerful signal. It says, “We value this. We’re in this together. And we’re not above doing the work.”

💬 And that’s the key to making mental health training for managers actually work—whether it’s delivered online or in person, in the UK or the US.

✅ If your organisation is ready to go beyond lip service and lead from the top, explore our Mental Health Training for Managers (UK) or US programme.

Let’s make mental health a leadership priority—not just a wellbeing initiative.