Maria Loumpourdi on why mental health must be a workplace priority

Certified Life Coach and author Maria Loumpourdi recently shared her reflections on mental health and the concept of work-life balance at an event about balancing business and wellbeing by bBrave.

Addressing the topic of mental health and employee performance, she emphasised an important reality: Employees cannot perform effectively if their mental health is suffering.

The Life Coach said that sooner or later, poor mental health will impact both employees’ performance and engagement at work.

“We must address this reality openly and build workplaces where mental well-being is a priority, not an afterthought,” she stated.

Dr Loumpourdi also expressed her scepticism about the conventional construct of work-life balance, offering a nuanced perspective.

“There are times in life where work will be the top priority – and that’s okay,” she said.

When people are passionate about a project, driven by ambition, and fully invested in their work, it can bring immense fulfilment. For many, this perceived ‘imbalance’ actually enhances mental health. “Passion and purpose are profound sources of joy,” she added.

Dr Loumpourdi questioned the typical approach to work-life balance, which often seems to centre on limiting work, such as avoiding emails outside of office hours or strictly managing tasks.

“I believe there’s a more meaningful approach,” she explained. “Instead of trying to stop thinking about work, why not focus on making your life so rich and fulfilling that checking emails every hour feels irrelevant? A life full of interests, connection, and purpose makes it easier to maintain a natural, healthy relationship with work.”