Supporting Parents’ Mental Health at Work
Reduce Hidden Costs. Strengthen Teams. Retain Talent.
The cost of turnover is 21% of an employee’s annual salary.
When employees become parents, the physical, emotional, and cognitive changes of early parenthood do not stop when they return to work.
Without structured support, organisations silently absorb the cost through
Presenteeism and reduced productivity
Higher burnout (65% of working parents report it)
Declining morale as teams shoulder extra workload
Managers lacking skills or confidence to support returning parents
Employees fearing stigma, staying silent, and quietly underperforming
These challenges go unseen, untracked, and unbudgeted. But they drain performance and talent.
Did You Know?
“65% of working parents
report experiencing burnout,
with depression and anxiety significantly correlated
with this burnout.”
Gawlik et al., 2025: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39297832
What this Programme Offers
Our framework focuses on three areas
We help organisations create structured, compassionate and effective systems that support employees through pregnancy, parental leave, and the return-to-work transition.
1. Awareness:
Leaders and HR teams understand the biology, psychology, and workplace dynamics that affect returning parents.
2. Skills:
Managers gain the confidence and tools to have supportive conversations, reduce stigma, and handle reintegration effectively.
3. Strategy:
Companies leave with practical action steps they can implement immediately.
What Makes this approach different?
Rooted in lived experience + leadership psychology
Based on global mental health and workplace research
Human-centred and emotionally intelligent
Designed for busy managers who need tools, not theory
Directly addresses postpartum mental health, burnout, and invisible workplace pressures
Our Solution
We help companies build a mentally healthy, high-trust workplace for expecting and new parents.
Our approach combines education, leadership skills, and HR strategy.
What we provide:
- Training for HR and leadership
- Emotional intelligence for managers
- Practical tools for reintegration
- Policy templates and frameworks
- Custom consulting for return-to-work support
We turn blind spots into structured, repeatable processes.
Workshops for HR & Leaders
Half-Day Workshop
Strengthen your organisation’s ability to:
- Understand the mental health shifts of early parenthood
- Recognise the hidden productivity drain
- Build team safety and reduce stigma
- Support returning parents without overwhelming managers
- Implement practical reintegration strategies
Full-Day Workshop
Build upon the half-day with:
- Emotional intelligence training
- Storytelling for leadership communication
- Real-case role-play scenarios
- Creating your parental mental health strategy
- Designing or refining your return-to-work programmes
While Thandi tried to hold herself together, her team felt the strain too.
They had been covering her workload for months, balancing extra tasks and tight deadlines.
At first, they were supportive. But as weeks passed, frustration started to creep in. They didn’t understand why she seemed distant or emotional. Their patience wore thin.
Her manager, unsure of what was happening, began to question her performance. She wanted to help but didn’t know how.
They had targets to meet.
Did You Know?
According to studies, PPD diagnosis rates nearly doubled from 9.4% in 2010 to 19% in 2021.
This means more women are experiencing it, or more are finally getting diagnosed.
Both require better workplace awareness.
Why This Matters to HR and Financial Leaders
Ignoring postpartum challenges can quietly drain your bottom line.
65% of working parents report experiencing burnout, with depression and anxiety closely linked to that burnout.
And yet, few organizations have structured return-to-work programmes or mental health policies tailored to new parents.
When HR leads with empathy and understanding, it builds loyalty and productivity.
Employees who feel supported after returning from maternity leave are three times more likely to stay with their employer.
Risk Factors You Can Influence
Workplace factors that increase PPD risk include:
- Lack of job security or flexibility
- High workloads with little control
- Poor schedule autonomy
- Minimal maternity reintegration support
- Weak communication and trust
Did You Know?
Work-life conflict is one of the strongest predictors of postpartum anxiety and depression. Women who feel torn between home and office are twice as likely to experience burnout.
Parental Mental Health Mindset Snippets
Through our Taming the Monster video series. From High Performance to High Risk, Postpartum Depression Impacts the Workplace: Why Companies Must Take Action, and Breastfeeding Support at Work Enhances Mental Health and Employee Engagement. We bridge the gap between parents’ real experiences and HR’s role in building supportive workplaces.
From High Performance to High Risk: Supporting Parents’ Mental Health at Work
Postpartum Anxiety and Depression Impact the Workplace: Why Companies Must Act
Breastfeeding Support at Work Enhances Mental Health and Employee Engagement
What We Offer HR & Corporate Clients
Keynote: From High Performance to High Risk – Supporting Parents’ Mental Health at Work
Workshop: Telling the Story, Leading with Emotional Intelligence
Designed HR‑Toolkit: Parental Mental Health Strategy for HR Leaders
Custom consulting for your return‑to‑work programme and manager training
What is Postnatal or POSTPARTUM Depression?
Are you or someone you know feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or persistently sad after childbirth? POSTNATAL DEPRESSION (PND), also known as POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, is more than the “baby blues.” It’s a real and serious mental health condition that can affect your ability to care for yourself or your baby. You are not alone. Many new parents experience feelings of guilt, shame, or isolation, making it hard to seek help. Support is available, and recovery is possible. Whether you’re a parent, HR manager, or caregiver, knowing the signs and encouraging professional support can make a life-changing difference. Everyone deserves to feel supported, uplifted and well.
Can Men Suffer From Paternal Postpartum Depression?
Paternal postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious but often overlooked condition affecting up to 1 in 10 new fathers. It can begin during pregnancy or within the first year after birth. Common signs include sadness, anger, irritability, withdrawal from family, changes in sleep or eating habits, and loss of interest in activities. Fathers may also feel overwhelmed, hopeless, or disconnected from their baby. PPD can impact relationships and the baby’s development if left untreated. Men often hide their symptoms, making it harder to detect. With support, counseling, and in some cases, medication, recovery is possible and families can heal together.
Meet Kim Vermaak
Kim Vermaak
The Mindset Whisperer
Kim Vermaak, author, speaker, and host of the Write Learn and Earn Show, draws upon her own powerful journey through severe postnatal depression to offer vital insights and hope. Having spent years empowering leaders to share their stories, Kim now bravely steps forward to break the silence on this often-hidden struggle affecting countless women within our communities and workplaces. Through her personal narrative, "Taming the Monster," and impactful talks, Kim offers understanding and practical strategies for mental health support groups, corporates with wellness programs, NGOs, and the women directly facing PND. Join us to learn, connect, and discover how we can better support mothers on their path to recovery and wellbeing.
Author | Speaker | Mental Health Advocate
Let's Talk About Postpartum depression (PPD)
In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Tarynlee Kearney and Lynn Vermaak from The Boardroom Couch to unpack a topic that’s often overlooked… postpartum depression in both mothers and fathers.
Drawing on insights from my book Taming the Monster, we explore:
- What postpartum depression really looks like for men and women
- The complex emotional journey of modern motherhood
- How fathers can also suffer in silence and why it matters
- The role of the workplace in supporting new parents
Real stories, expert advice, and practical ways to create safer spaces at home and at work
Whether you’re a parent, a leader, an HR professional, or someone who cares about mental health. This episode will open your eyes to the realities many families face after the birth of a child.