Supporting men's mental health at work during divorce, with Halfords

Mental health at work is hard to talk about - and for men, it can feel even harder, especially when divorce or separation is part of the picture.

Released: 20 May 2026
33 MIN
#195
Emotional journey

Mental health at work is hard to talk about - and for men, it can feel even harder, especially when divorce or separation is part of the picture.

In this episode, Kate is joined by Mel Sterling, Senior People Leader at Halfords, to talk about men's mental health at work - what to look for, what to say and why divorce is the missing piece in most workplace wellbeing strategies.

We talk about:

  • How men's mental health often shows up differently at work - and what to look out for
  • Why divorce and separation are still missing from most workplace wellbeing strategies
  • The simple ‘ask twice’ technique that can change a conversation
  • Who to talk to at work when you're going through separation - and what to ask for
  • How employers can build a culture where people feel safe to speak up

This episode is for anyone navigating divorce or separation alongside work - and for the employers, HR teams and colleagues who want to better support the men around them. Research referenced in this episode is from Priory Group's research on men and mental health.

Meet Mel Sterling

Mel Sterling is a Senior People Leader at Halfords, with a career spent shaping how some of the UK's biggest organisations look after their people. Across roles at Halfords, Holland & Barrett and Sainsbury's, she's led work on colleague wellbeing, inclusion and culture - partnering with executive teams to build environments where people feel supported, represented and able to bring their whole selves to work. She has a track record of making wellbeing and inclusion genuinely work in practice - not just on paper. You can get in touch with Mel and read more about her work on LinkedIn.

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