Sab UddinWorkplace Wellbeing

Mental health & workplace wellbeing

Mental health talks
that help teams
actually talk.

Lived-experience talks and workshops that help colleagues start supportive conversations and welcome someone back after mental ill health.

For law firms, financial services and other demanding workplaces.

Former paralegal at Freshfields · MHFA England-trained Mental Health First Aider.

Enquire about a session Download speaker brief (PDF)
Workplace sessions: online or in person, UK-wide

Talks for charities & community groups

Space for the conversations your people need.

  • HR, People & L&D teams
  • EDI & employee networks
  • Managers & leadership teams
  • Wellbeing champions & colleagues

Ideal for lunch & learns, awareness days and team wellbeing events.

What your team will take away

Hear a first-hand account of mental ill health, recovery and returning to work, with lessons from demanding professional environments.

The NALA approach

Four simple steps, drawing on Mental Health First Aid principles, to put supportive conversations into practice.

  • Notice when a colleague may be struggling.
  • Ask without overstepping.
  • Listen without judgement.
  • Agree a practical next step and where further support may be available, then follow through.

You’ll also explore:

Welcome someone back after time off, with warmth and space to discuss what would help.

A thoughtful space to participate at your own pace. Nobody is asked to share a diagnosis or personal experience.

Professional endorsements

What professionals say
about my work.

Edited excerpts from my previous mental health awareness and support work.

“Sab is an inspiration. He has the ability to connect with professional, patient and carer alike… A psychiatrist never stops learning, and I have learnt the power of recovery from him.”

Dr Musa SamiConsultant Psychiatrist
Former Clinical Associate Professor, University of Nottingham

“He has a talent and passion to help others. I applaud him for using his own personal experience to shine a much-needed light on mental health awareness.”

Dr Giovanni BorghiniNHS Consultant Psychiatrist

“Sab’s story is motivational, uplifting and inspirational. I am pleased to see him raising awareness about mental illness, particularly amongst Asian, African and ethnic minority communities.”

Charlotte RussellCognitive Behavioural Therapist, NHS
Read more endorsements

“Sab’s story is truly remarkable and inspirational. I fully support his campaign to break the stigma around mental health.”

Cllr Peter TaylorElected Mayor of Watford

“An excellent listener with an exceptional ability to ask thought-provoking questions.”

Riz ThakirPeer Support Client · USA

“Sab spoke so kindly and respectfully to me… throughout all of my dealings and interactions with him I have never felt judged.”

Barillas SantosPeer Support Client · Guatemala

“Sab possesses a unique ability to connect with various persons by creating a safe and supportive environment for them to explore their thoughts and emotions.”

Sabbahat MirzaPeer Support Client · UK

Two ways to start

A talk to open the conversation.
A workshop to explore it.

A lived-experience talk with Q&A, or a workshop with hands-on practice tailored to your workplace.

The talk

Lived-experience talk and Q&A

An honest view of mental ill health, recovery and returning to work, with time for your team’s questions.

Duration

60 minutes

Audience

Teams and employee networks. Audience size agreed before booking.

What happens

  • 30 minMy story and the lessons learned about support in working life.
  • 30 minYour questions and discussion of familiar workplace situations.

What’s included

  • A 15-minute preparation call
  • Workplace examples tailored to your team
  • An introduction to the NALA approach
  • A two-page takeaway resource
  • Signposting to further support

Fee

£350 introductory rate per session

Available to my first three client bookings. Standard rate £650 per session.

Enquire about the talk
The workshop

Supportive conversations workshop

A short version of my return-to-work story, followed by guided NALA practice in supportive workplace conversations.

Duration

90 minutes

Audience

8–20 people, with space for pair and small-group practice.

What happens

  • 15 minMy story and returning to work
  • 10 minThe NALA conversation structure
  • 45 minScenarios and small-group practice
  • 20 minDebrief, practical next steps and Q&A

What’s included

  • A 15-minute preparation call to agree your focus
  • Tailored law, finance or other workplace scenarios
  • NALA practice: Notice · Ask · Listen · Agree
  • A two-page takeaway resource to use afterwards
  • Signposting to further support
  • A follow-up summary of key learning points

Fee

From £750 per session

The fee reflects group size, delivery format and tailoring.

Discuss a workshop

Your total fee, including any travel, is agreed in writing before booking.

Meet your speaker

Hello, I’m Sab.
Here’s where I come from.

I know mental ill health, recovery and the slow work of rebuilding confidence from the inside.

I’ve worked as a paralegal at Freshfields and provided in-house legal support at an international investment bank. I’ve also been managing and investing in property for the last decade.

I bring that experience to honest conversations about workplace pressure, support and returning to work. I hold an LLB and LPC, and I’m an MHFA England-trained Mental Health First Aider.

MHFA England-trained Mental Health First AiderLLB & LPCFormer paralegal at FreshfieldsLaw & property background
Enquire about a session

Hear My Story

Sab Uddin · 1 min 13 sec · English captions included
Read the video transcript

Hi, I'm Sab Uddin. One in four people will suffer from mental ill health this year. I was one of them.

Unfortunately, my health took a turn for the worse and I was out of work, navigating my health challenges and the prospect of returning back to work, which felt daunting at the time.

Having worked in professional settings such as a world-leading law firm called Freshfields, an international investment bank, as well as managing and investing in property for the last decade, I know how demanding the professional workplace can be and the challenges that come with it.

I now help teams drive the conversation forward about mental health in the workplace, the stigma associated with mental health and returning back to work after some time away.

Having been there, done that, got the T-shirt and having navigated the challenges myself, if you would like to talk about how I can help your teams talk about mental health in your workplace, feel free to contact me using my enquiry form on the website www.sabuddin.com.

The annual one-in-four estimate refers to England. Source: Mind (opens in a new tab).

Choose the focus

Real experiences.
Relevant conversations.

Choose a theme for your talk or a starting point for a tailored workshop.

01 / RETURNING TO WORK

Returning
to work

Confidence, expectations and useful conversations when someone returns after mental ill health.

02 / UNDERSTANDING

Mental health
& stigma

How language, assumptions and everyday interactions can shape someone's experience at work.

03 / WORKPLACE PRESSURE

Pressure, boundaries
& burnout

Space to reflect on workload, expectations and conversations about pressure and support.

04 / CONNECTION

Supportive
conversations

Listening, asking thoughtful questions and exploring what practical help might mean for an individual.

Example workshop activity

A colleague is coming back.

A fictional law-firm scenario: A senior associate is returning after three months off for mental ill health. Her team has been covering her caseload, a key client deal closes in two weeks, and her supervising partner isn’t sure what to say. What would you ask, and what would you avoid assuming?

“It’s good to have you back. What would help make the first week manageable?”

Use the NALA approach in pairs or small groups, then agree one practical next step. Listening is welcome.

Download the sample resource PDF

For charities, carers’ groups & clubs

Community talks

Alongside my workplace sessions, I speak with charities, carers’ groups, community organisations and clubs.

I share what it felt like to need support, what helped my recovery, and what I wish others had understood.

Alongside my story, I bring my training as an MHFA England-trained Mental Health First Aider.

In a relaxed, informal talk, I connect my own experience with practical ways to:

  • Notice when someone close to you may be struggling
  • Start a supportive conversation
  • Listen without judgement
  • Look after your own wellbeing while supporting someone else

Community talks: in person in Milton Keynes and the surrounding area, or online. Tailored for your group. Community rates are available.

Enquire about a community talk
hello@sabuddin.com

Good to know

A few useful
details.

What happens after I enquire?

I reply within two working days. I discuss your audience and goals with you, then agree the scope and total fee in writing before confirming the booking. The preparation call shapes the session around your team and covers practical arrangements.

Who are the sessions for?

Workplace sessions are for law firms, financial services and other demanding workplaces, including HR and People teams, employee networks, managers and colleagues. For charities, carers’ groups and clubs, see community talks.

What happens if someone becomes upset during the session?

I agree a support contact and response plan with your organiser beforehand. People can pause, step out or simply listen. If someone becomes upset, I offer a break and help them access the agreed support.

What do the sessions cost?

The 60-minute talk and Q&A is £350 per session, available to my first three client bookings, then £650. The 90-minute workshop starts from £750 for 8–20 people. Your total fee, including any travel, is agreed in writing before booking. No VAT is charged.

Are community rates available?

Yes. I discuss your group, focus and delivery arrangements, then confirm a community rate before booking.

Can the session be tailored?

Yes. The preparation call shapes the focus and examples around your audience. Workshops include scenarios relevant to your workplace.

Do you offer clinical advice or accredited training?

Sessions offer education and discussion informed by lived experience and Mental Health First Aid training. They are not therapy, clinical advice or accredited training, and do not qualify attendees as Mental Health First Aiders.

How do online and in-person bookings work?

Workplace sessions: online (Teams or Zoom) or in person across the UK. Community talks: Milton Keynes and the surrounding area, or online. I confirm platform or venue arrangements before booking.

Why start a conversation about mental health?

Better conversations can help people speak earlier, managers listen carefully and teams identify where support or change is needed.

Start with a conversation

What would help
your team or group?

Use the short form or email me directly about your team, group or event.

I confirm scope, audience size and delivery arrangements before booking. Recommended notice: 3–4 weeks.

Connect on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)

Prefer to talk first?

Request a free 15-minute call Email a few times that work for you, including your time zone.
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How your enquiry is used

Sab Uddin Workplace Wellbeing uses your details to respond and arrange your session. Formspree processes the form and emails it to hello@sabuddin.com. Your details are not added to a marketing list. Read the privacy notice for information about email copies, retention, cookies and your rights. For a privacy question or request, email hello@sabuddin.com.