Last Word
Tom Fisher
Former Clarion Energy
marketing director Tom
Fisher (now Clarion
Events group marketing
operations manager
and EN Awards winner)
raises a vital issue
around men and mental
health
or support if I’ve needed it.
Tell A Friend
There can be a temptation
to lock yourself away from
the world when you’re not
feeling right. I have always
found getting to work where
there’s a distraction, as well
as people to talk to about
how you’re feeling, or just
the football at the weekend,
really helps. Initially I was
surprised how kind people
can be, as well the difference
getting it off your chest can
make.
I
am someone that is candid
about my mental health.
For most of my life, I have
experienced manic highs
where you feel like you can
conquer the world, and
crushing lows where you feel
like all hope is gone. This can
obviously have a huge impact
on your work and enjoyment
of your day-to-day life.
For that reason, promoting
mental wellbeing is
something I am very
passionate about and I
thank EN for the platform
to promote this. Over the
years, I have found various
ways to alleviate negative
feelings I’ve had. I’m not
a doctor, much to my
family’s disappointment,
but I do have some personal
suggestions for those in our
beloved industry who find
themselves in this position.
Don’t Bottle It Up
Something I have found,
particularly with men, is
that negative feelings get
bottled up and hidden away
until the point there is a
mental explosion. This is
not healthy, and it doesn’t
make you any braver. I detest
66 — February
How Can Employers Help?
CAREER HISTORY
» 2006 – 2009
Prison Admin Officer
» 2009 – 2013
Metropolitan Police Officer
» 2013 – 2016
Left Police & Joined PPMA as a
Marketing Executive
» 2016 –
Joined Clarion as Marketing
Executive on DSEI, promoted to
Marketing Manager
» 2018 –
Moved to Clarion Energy as
Marketing Director.
» 2020 –
Started as Group Marketing
Operations Manager for Clarion
Event s
the expression: “It’s okay to
not be okay”. That wouldn’t
be said about any other
situation. Speak to a doctor
and get help.
Tell Work
In general, there is still a
perceived stigma around
men and mental health in
the workplace -that if you
tell your boss that you’re
not feeling right, some
devastating black mark will
be against your name. Times
have changed, and even if
that were the case, do you
really want to spend the next
few years at that company?
The candid approach isn’t
for everyone, but I can say
that Clarion have been
supportive both in a formal
and informal capacity during
my time here, offering advice
Unfortunately, years
of television soaps and
misconceptions have
painted a depressing picture
of mental health as tears,
drama and sick leave. The
reality is that the person can
just feel numb and just isn’t
taking much enjoyment from
life. It sounds simple but
asking how someone feeling
can really make a difference.
You can’t be a counsellor,
but you can be a good boss/
colleague and talk it out.
Bear in mind that the person
could be uncomfortable
with how they’re feeling –
let them talk to you at their
pace.
To end this on a positive
note, despite spending most
of my life battling mental
health, I’ve still got to where
I wanted to be and really
started to take enjoyment
out of life, as have countless
others.