In this episode of The Risk Factor, Craig Smith, COMET’s Head of Operations and L&D, engages in a candid conversation with JimGrimmer, former police officer, oil and gas professional, and founder of P3 Business Care, about whether workplace mental health support is really helping people, or just ticking a box.

Some of the topics they addressed cover:

• Why many people would rather stay silent than risk opening up

• What actually happens when you call the support number

• Why mental health first aiders may not be the solution companies think they are

• And how stress, burnout, and fear of speaking up are silently fueling safety risks

Jim explains that one of the reasons he built a business centred on early support and genuine human connection was witnessing too many situations where help arrived too late. He also speaks candidly about the impact of silence, sharing the heartbreaking story of a young colleague who died by suicide.

During our “Root of the Matter” segment, Craig and Jim dig into what some companies get wrong about mental health and how leadership can create cultures where people feel safe to speak up.

They also look at the link between mental health and safety. When people are burned out, stressed, or afraid to speak up, mistakes happen. And in high-risk jobs, that can cost lives.

This episode comes out just after Mental Health Awareness Week, which this year focused on the importance of community: feeling connected, supported, and safe. It’s a message we strongly believe in. However, this cannot be something organisations talk about only once a year. Building a workplace where people feel they belong, where they’re listened to, and where support is real, not just promised, has to happen every day. That’s what this conversation is about. It’s about creating a culture where people aren’t just surviving work, but feel genuinely supported by it.

This conversation doesn’t have all the answers, but it does ask the right questions. It’s for anyone who wants to understand what genuine support looks like and why culture and leadership matter more than slogans.

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