Many insurance bosses have become more open about facing mental health struggles and have been spreading awareness of the importance of taking care of your mental health.
Now, Melbourne-based Cameron McKerchar, managing director of Tudor Insurance (Tudor), has openly discussed the significance of mental health, including the firm’s Be Your Best Now initiative.
In an Insurance Business Australia TV (IB TV) episode, McKerchar shared that he had “some pretty dark times” and had been consulting a psychologist for several years and still sees from time to time “just to make sure that everything’s where it should be.”
Commenting further on his mental health journey, he said: “I think focusing on your health is important. So, exercise is a big thing. I think exercise is probably the most underutilised, but one of the most effective things you can do to keep yourself in a positive mind frame. And when you’re busy in a role, every little bit helps to keep yourself positive.”
McKerchar shared that the Be Your Best Now initiative started when the firm’s accountant introduced him to a positive psychologist who runs it.
“[The program] focuses on lifting people from being happy to being the best they can be, not necessarily bringing people back from a lower state. It focuses on three areas – the mind, the body, and relationships,” he told IB TV.
In November 2022, Tudor had a fundraiser to support men’s mental health, raising nearly $2,895, compared to the original goal of $1,500.
“We’re really pleased with that. Men’s mental health is becoming more of a focus lately. In the past, it’s probably been something like, ‘just toughen up.’ But men have struggles, and they need to be open about that to help themselves be better going forward,” McKerchar said.
“I think men see [depression or anxiety] as a sign of weakness. But if you broke your arm, you’d get your arm fixed at the hospital. So, if you’re struggling mentally, you see a professional and help yourself get fixed. There’s no shame or embarrassment and it at all.”
In Allianz Australia’s (Allianz) September 2022 report, surveyed employees identified a broad range of concerns negatively impacting their job satisfaction. On the bright side, many employers now focus more on mental health, with 53% of managers surveyed saying their company had gone above and beyond to provide support and systems that created mentally healthy workplaces.
Learn more about McKerchar’s mental health journey and Tudor’s mental health initiatives by watching IB TV.
