The reason why people are wearing green ribbons in London this week

Coming to terms with your mental health can be hard enough, but confiding in others can prove to be even more of a challenge, especially if this person is your boss.

After a new survey of workers in UK businesses showed that 40 per cent of employees would still not feel comfortable raising a mental health issue with a colleague or manager, it was clear more needed to be done to tackle the sigma associated with mental health in the workplace.

This is where the Green Ribbon Campaign comes in, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.

More than 150 City firms will wear their green ribbons and come together in a new drive to end the stigma of talking about mental health, including banks, insurers, asset managers, law firms, professional services firms and mental health charities. The aim is to demonstrate to employees that it is important to talk about mental health freely and without fear of judgement.

It is expected that over 300,000 staff throughout London and across the country will be wearing 70,000 green ribbons as part of the PwC's 'Green Light To Talk' initiative, led by The Lord Mayor’s Appeal This is Me campaign.

Each green ribbon comes branded with the words: ‘Together we can #endthestigma’ and employees are encouraged to wear them throughout the week (May 8-14).

Buildings across London, including the Bank of England, PwC’s Embankment headquarters, One Canada Square and the National Theatre will also be lit up in green throughout to show support for the initiative.

Alderman Dr Andrew Parmley, Lord Mayor of the City of London said: “I am proud to be wearing my green ribbon to support the This is Me – in the City campaign and am delighted that so many businesses have joined the initiative. Mental health difficulties can affect any of us at any time and half of absences in non- manual work can be put down to stress. Employers have a responsibility to support their staff and encourage open conversations in a push to end the stigma of discussing mental health in the workplace.”

To find out more about the Green Ribbon initiative, or to speak to PwC, please contact Ellie Raven on ellie.raven@pwc.com or +44 (0) 207 804 3663