Before the Pace Picks Up: Why Having Someone to Talk To Matters

Summer isn’t quite over. But you can already feel the pace changing.

August has a funny feeling to it.

There are still sunny days, holidays and a little more breathing room, but September is on the horizon. Routines are returning. Work is picking up. New starters are joining teams, workloads are building and, before we know it, we’re into the final few months of the year.

And suddenly, Christmas doesn’t seem quite so far away.

For young people in the workplace, this transition can bring excitement. New opportunities, new responsibilities and the chance to build confidence in a career.

But it can also bring pressure.

Pressure to perform. Pressure to fit in. Pressure to know what you’re doing, even when you don’t.

And when things start to feel difficult, one of the most important questions we can ask is:

Who do you actually feel comfortable talking to?

The numbers tell a story

Workplace mental health isn’t a small issue.

The Health and Safety Executive estimates that 964,000 workers experienced work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2024/25.

And for young people, the picture is particularly important. The latest government statistics show that one in five young people aged 16–24 who were not in education, employment or training reported a mental health condition in 2025.

These figures aren’t just numbers.

Behind them are people trying to navigate work, relationships, expectations and everyday life sometimes without feeling like they have anywhere safe to put their worries.

Sometimes, the person you need isn’t at work

Most organisations want to support their people.

There might be a manager you trust, a wellbeing lead, HR support or an Employee Assistance Programme.

But having support available doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll feel comfortable using it.

You might not want to tell your manager you’re struggling.

You might worry that a colleague will see you differently.

Or perhaps you’re dealing with something completely outside of work and simply don’t want to bring your personal life into your professional environment.

That’s where talking to someone outside your organisation can offer something different.

There is no meeting afterwards.

No working relationship to navigate.

No need to worry about how the conversation might affect your professional identity.

You can just talk.

And sometimes, having that space makes it easier to say what you actually mean.

It’s not about having all the answers

Peer support isn’t about someone fixing you.

It’s not about being given a list of solutions or being told what you should do.

It’s about having a conversation with someone who understands the value of being heard.

Someone who can listen without judgement.

Someone who can help you make sense of what’s going on.

And, importantly, someone who can help you build the confidence to take the next step yourself.

Because confidence doesn’t always come from knowing exactly what to say.

Sometimes, confidence comes from having somewhere safe to say it first.

Before the pace picks up, check in

As we head towards the busier months of the year, perhaps the most useful thing we can do isn’t wait until we’re struggling.

It’s check in now.

How are you really doing?

What have you been carrying that you haven’t talked about?

And who could you speak to, someone who isn’t your manager, isn’t your colleague and doesn’t have a stake in your work, but simply understands what it means to listen?

That’s where Talk to A Peer comes in.

Talk to A Peer, from OdiliaClark, provides structured, peer-led support from trained people who understand the pressures of the industries they work in. The aim isn’t to replace professional or clinical support. It’s to make that first conversation easier giving people a confidential space to talk, be heard, make sense of what’s happening and, where appropriate, be signposted towards further support.

And because the support sits outside your own organisation, there can be an important sense of separation. You don’t have to worry about talking to someone you’ll see across the office tomorrow. You can speak openly, knowing the conversation isn’t part of your day-to-day working relationships.

That matters.

Because sometimes the hardest part isn’t knowing that support exists.

It’s taking the first step towards it.

So, before the pace picks up, take a moment to check in with yourself.

You don’t have to wait until things become overwhelming. You don’t need to have the right words. And you certainly don’t need to have all the answers.

Sometimes, you just need someone who gets it.

Talk to A Peer. Support from those who understand.