World Mental Health Day 2023

This World Mental Health Day on October 10th, we’re all about helping Australians strengthen their mental health. 

 
 

The Business Owner’s Guide to ‘Keeping It Real’

 
Owning a business is a bit like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle. As a business owner, you don’t just balance books; you balance your mental health too. The stresses of managing deadlines, satisfying clients, and growing your business can be overwhelming.
 
Frédéric Laloux is onto something. In his book Reinventing Organizations, he says, “Every time we leave a part of us behind, we cut ourselves off from part of our potential, of our creativity and energy.” Let’s be real, the corporate world often expects a watered-down version of you.
 
Spoiler alert: Owning your quirks can save your sanity.
 
Andrea Liner, a fab psychologist, warns that altering your personality too much at work can stress you out. If the suit-wearing, jargon-spouting persona at work clashes with your vibrant, authentic self, you’re digging a one-way tunnel to Stressville.
 

Be Yourself —Your Clients Will Thank You

 
It’s time we ditch the stereotypes, they don’t serve anyone well. 
People resonate more with brands that feel human, not like some stiff from a 1980s Wall Street movie.

 
Breaking the mold isn’t just good for your mental health; it’s beneficial for your brand. When you embrace your unique qualities, you’re not just another face in the crowd. You’re you.
And guess what? People love something real.
 
When I started No Grey Suits, my mission was to inject fun and colour into ‘boring’ industries. That kind of authenticity (yes, I’m using that word), sets you apart and creates a more open, welcoming atmosphere. Clients connect with you better because they get a sense of who you truly are.
 

Why being you is awesome:

 
  • Unforgettable Brand: Your quirks make you memorable.
  • Client Relationships: Authenticity creates stronger bonds, and you attract the clients you love working with.
  • Mental Health: Less stress pretending to be something you’re not.
 

Emotional Intelligence

 
Berkeley University‘s got the stats: Emotional intelligence often trumps professional skills and IQ for success. EQ isn’t just for winning friends and influencing people; it’s also for self-awareness.
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the unspoken hero of both professional and personal success.
 
It’s a two-sided coin. One side focuses on self-awareness and self-management—knowing your triggers, regulating emotions, and making decisions that vibe with your values.
 
The flip side? Social skills—understanding others’ emotions and handling interactions like a pro.
 

Being your true self turbocharges your EQ.

 
When you drop the façade and align your actions with your authentic self, you gain a sharper emotional read on situations. You’re less clouded by the stress of playing a role, so you naturally build stronger connections with people.
 

What EQ does for you (and your business):

 
  • Self-Awareness: Know your triggers, your happy zones, and how you work best.
  • Managing Emotions: No more rollercoaster highs and lows. Well, fewer anyway.
  • Social Awareness: You read the room like a pro.
 
 
This World Mental Health Day, I’m advocating for a collective coming-out-of-our-shells moment.
 
You don’t have to suddenly change your whole work “persona”. I’ve still got a very distinct work-phone voice 😂. It can be little things, like being honest about the reason for a delay or missed call when your toddler spills a cup of juice on your keyboard, or having a laugh at accidentally wearing two different shoes. 
 
Anastasia Geneave from No Grey Suits with her family

Walking the Talk: My Own Rollercoaster

 
I’m baring my soul a bit here because, hey, if I’m telling you to embrace your quirks, I’ve got to do as I say, too. I figure, it’s World Mental Health Day, and now or never. 
 
After my second little monster bundle of joy arrived, I found myself in a dark place, struggling with post-partum depression. Just when you think life can’t throw any more curveballs, I got diagnosed with ADHD. It was as if someone turned on a light in a room I never knew was dark. It explained so many patterns and behaviours I’d been wrangling with but never understood.
 
But, life’s timing is a comedian. This diagnosis came right when I was knee-deep in maternity leave from a high-stakes corporate job. A job I knew I couldn’t return to without losing my mind, quite literally. So, I tried a part-time gig. Nope, that crashed and burned too. Two resignations in a year—I felt like I was a failure in every way, drowning fast.
 
Instead of sinking, this became my lifebuoy. I started No Grey Suits, took my ADHD diagnosis not as a label but as an insight. Now I channel my unique brain wiring into my work, leveraging hyperfocus moments and letting my creativity run wild.
 
So, why am I sharing all this? Because your quirks, your so-called “flaws,” could be your hidden superpowers. They make you, well, you. And in both mental health and business, you are your most valuable asset. If I can find my yellow brick road amidst the chaos, you can too.
 
 

Need help or support? If your life is in danger Call 000.
If you or someone you care for is in need of immediate assistance you can contact the below National 24/7 Crisis Counselling Services:

Lifeline

13 11 14 – 24 hours a day
7 days a week

Lifeline Text

0477 13 11 14 – 6pm to midnight (AEDT)
7 nights a week

Beyond Blue

1300 22 4636
www.beyondblue.org.au  

Butterfly Foundation National Helpline

1800 334 673

Carer Support

1800 242 636 or
1300 554 660

SANE AUSTRALIA Help Centre

1800 187 263
www.sane.org

Suicide Call Back Service

1300 659 467

Kids Helpline

1800 55 1800
www.kidshelpline.com.au

Mensline Australia

1300 789 978

Qlife

1800 184 527

Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling

1800 011 046

 

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