By: 10 November 2020
Thrive Law founder recognised as national mental health champion

Jodie Hill, managing director of Leeds-based Thrive Law, features in leading action group InsideOut’s list of senior workplace leaders championing mental ill-health issues in the workplace.

And in a second accolade, Hill won InsideOut’s Advocacy Award. The judges said they “were so impressed with the energy and drive that Jodie displays in campaigning for mentally healthier workplaces as well as walking the walk in building her own business, with wellbeing at the heart”.

They also made reference to her work as chair of This Is Me Yorkshire—a new campaign to raise awareness of mental health in the workplace and tackle stigma.

The list was announced at a virtual awards ceremony and includes senior leaders from prestigious household names including Facebook, Barclays, Deloitte, PwC, National Grid and Starbucks. Called the InsideOut LeaderBoard 2020, it has been devised to help smash the stigma surrounding mental ill-health in the workplace and to recognise business leaders who are open about their own personal battles.  

Hill, who launched employment and HR firm Thrive Law in 2018, said: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed to have been recognised in the annual list published by InsideOut. To stand alongside ambassadors from the likes of Facebook and Barclays is a truly humbling experience and makes me immensely proud.”

“The action group does some fantastic work to highlight such an important issue which is so very often sadly ignored and swept aside in today’s modern society with an association of stigma. It’s time for business leaders to stand up and place mental health firmly back on the agenda.”

“It’s an absolute honour to be awarded the prestigious Advocacy award for going over and above. I now hope that more business leaders will follow, and share their story and practice what they preach.”

InsideOut founder Rob Stephenson, who experiences bipolar disorder himself, said: “The InsideOut LeaderBoard demonstrates that mental ill-health exists at all levels within the workplace, even in the boardroom.”

“We aim to reduce stigma by supporting people to be open and honest about their mental health. I’m delighted that our list of 42 role models in 2019 has added the experiences of 68 new individuals in 2020, more than doubling our total number of champions. By sharing their experiences they’ll encourage their employees to be open about their feelings.”