Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. It provides an invaluable opportunity for us to raise awareness, break the stigma and start important conversations about mental health. In our latest article, Nathaniel Cannon, Co-Chair of our colleague-led network, MaxAbility, shares insights from his personal journey with mental health, reflecting on the challenges faced and his path to recovery.
A new beginning at Maximus
I joined Maximus in February 2024, initially working as part of our Customer Experience team before moving into the role of an Employment Advisor. Here, I’m able to help people overcome their barriers to employment and guide them towards a better future.
Alongside my role, I am also Co-Chair of one of our colleague-led networks, MaxAbility. Together with our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion teams, as well as our senior leaders, we’ve worked incredibly hard to ensure that colleagues with mental and physical health conditions have a platform to share their experiences and voice their needs.
My own struggles with my mental health
Mental health is a topic very close to my heart. In 2017, I began experiencing anxiety and depression, which led me to seek help with antidepressants. This was just the beginning of a very tough chapter in my life. Over the next few years, I struggled with alcohol dependency, using it to numb my emotions. What started as a coping mechanism soon became a destructive cycle.
My mental health soon took a significant downturn during the Covid-19 lockdowns. I found myself out of work, without stability, and feeling completely disconnected from the world around me.
It wasn’t until 2023 that I made the decision to turn my life around. I began attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and with the support of others, I’ve now been sober for six months. This has been a big turning point for me, helping me to make sense of the challenges I had been facing.
The power of talking
Looking back, I realise how much my struggles were made worse by my reluctance to talk about what I was going through. I felt like a failure, ashamed of my situation, and I isolated myself from those who cared about me. But once I found the courage to open up, I saw how much of a difference it made.
I realised that I wasn’t alone in my struggles and that asking for help didn’t make me weak, it made me stronger. People genuinely wanted to be there for me, and I began to feel like I could face my challenges.
Mental health in the workplace
One of the things I truly appreciate about working at Maximus is how open our senior leaders are about their own mental health. This level of transparency is something I’ve never experienced before. It creates an environment where we can discuss our struggles openly without fear of judgement, which makes a huge difference to my day-to-day life.
Working in a place where mental health is supported, not stigmatised, has had a massive positive impact on my own wellbeing.
Taking a moment to share and listen
Time to Talk Day is an opportunity for all of us to pause, reflect, and start important conversations. It’s a day to remind ourselves that it’s okay to not be okay. A simple conversation can be life-changing, and it’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about raising awareness for mental health.
It can start with a text, a phone call, or a casual chat over coffee. You’d be amazed at how much lighter you can feel by simply sharing what’s on your mind.
Looking ahead
Today, I’m filled with hope. I’ve come a long way since the darkest days of my mental health struggles. I’m in a job I love, surrounded by supportive colleagues, and I’ve learned to take life one day at a time.
My mental health journey has shown me that with the right support and mindset, I can face anything that comes my way. If you or someone you know is struggling, use Time to Talk Day as an opportunity to begin the conversation. You never know, it might just change someone’s life.
