A NEW member of LSL Group’s senior management team has shared her deeply personal journey to emotional wellbeing for the latest video in the Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter (MIMHC) interview series.

Emma Hollingworth attributes her mental health challenges to workplace stress combined with personal life-changing events and hopes her candour will inspire others working in the mortgage sector as well as employers looking to implement appropriate support.

Emma talked to MIMHC Co-founder and Group Sales Director at Crystal Specialist Finance, Jason Berry, as part of the not-for-profit organisation’s latest “Keeping the Mental Health Conversation Going” video. The forum provides a platform for industry leaders to share insights and strategies for promoting best practice mental wellbeing in the workplace.

During a 30-year career in the mortgage industry, Emma has noticed her mental wellbeing falter on several separate occasions and has learned to take a proactive approach when this occurs.

“We work in a highly pressurised sector, and I now know how essential it is to take care of your physical health as well as your mental health in order to be your best self,” explained Emma, who began working as LSL Group’s Chief Distribution Officer earlier this month (October).

“There are frequently several factors that combine to impact your emotional wellbeing, and I personally found the onset of the menopause a trigger, as I was that young I didn’t realise it was the menopause but it really did affect my mental health. On that occasion, I became physically unable to function and wanted to retreat from everyday life which I now recognise to have been a form of burnout.

“But I’ve learned from these experiences and now know it’s essential to realise when you’re not coping, be absolutely honest with yourself and take appropriate action.

In MIMHC’s new video, Emma cites rest combined with exercise as key components of her recovery.

“For me, hot-pod yoga and rural walks with my dog prove immensely beneficial to my mental health,” adds Emma.

“I’m also a firm believer in the importance of frank conversations with colleagues – including your company’s mental health advocate or HR team – as well as with trusted friends on those occasions when it’s necessary.”

In forthcoming videos, Jason will be chatting with key figures across the mortgage industry about how they keep the mental health conversation going in their businesses.

(MIMHC) is a not-for-profit organisation that was founded to raise awareness of employees’ mental health and how the industry can take positive action to improve it.

MIMHC is made up of 7 co-founding firms plus over 100 signatory companies across the mortgage industry that represent over 20,000 individuals. All these firms agree to be bound by MIMHC’s 6 Governing Rules which apply best practice health and wellbeing guidelines and are summarised as ‘The MIMHC Charter’.