Breathe Out – Series 3, Volume 3

Tell us a little about who you are and the job you do?

My name is Jane Callan and I’ve worked at DWF Law for the past 26 years. I’m currently Head of Building Services, but I started out as a PA to the Directors. Over time, I progressed to managing secretarial teams, then qualified in health, safety and environmental compliance which lead to my previous role as Group Health and Safety Manager and eventually into my current role.

It’s been an amazing journey and the change I’ve seen over the years, especially in how we approach wellbeing and mental health, has been huge. In particular, the last five years have been transformational. I remember asking the business before the pandemic to invest in mental health first aiders. At the time it was still quite new to some people. Now, we’ve got numerous trained mental health first aiders and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that’s available to everyone across the business. It’s fantastic to see how far we’ve come.

How long have you worked in your industry?

I’ve been in the legal sector for over 33 years. I’ve actually only had two jobs in my whole life! After college, I went to work at another law firm. The person I worked for at this firm moved to DWF and asked me to join him, and I did. That was 26 years ago, and I haven’t looked back since. It’s been an incredibly stable and fulfilling career path, and I’m lucky to be part of such a forward thinking firm.

What makes DWF unique in its approach to mental health?

One of the biggest things that sets DWF apart is how integrated mental health and wellbeing are within our business strategy. Our ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy is really strong, and it’s developed massively over the past few years. Through our DWF Foundation and CSR Teams, we do a lot of work in the community, including helping people return to work, giving them training, interview preparation, and confidence to take that next step. We also support local schools in our 5 Star Future Programme. That kind of support can change someone’s life.What’s really reassuring is how invested our senior leadership team is in mental health. We’ve got about 5,000 people across the business, and we make sure that every office has access to mental health first aiders, as well as our independent EAP. People are encouraged to speak up if they’re struggling.

One of the things I love most is that mental health first aiders aren’t just drawn from the same office you work in. We understand that people might not feel comfortable talking to someone they know well, especially if it’s about something personal. So we give colleagues the option to speak to someone in a different office, which adds a level of anonymity and safety. And last year, we launched a new male mental health group to encourage more men in the business to open up, it’s such an important step, and I’m really proud of the work we’re doing.

Tell us something fun most people wouldn’t know about you.

Well, this one’s a bit of a throwback! When I was a kid, I was on a TV show called Cheggers Plays Pop. If you’re of a certain age, you’ll know what I’m talking about, it was a chaotic, fun kids’ game show with challenges and music performances. A group from my school got to take part, and we ended up winning the episode! Dr and the Medics were the guest band on the show, and it was all so exciting at the time.

My mum still has the whole thing recorded on video and loves threatening to show it to people. Luckily, I think I’m safe, no one owns a VHS player anymore!!

As part of the Breathe Out initiative, which highlights the power of talking and being active, how important are those things for you personally?

Honestly, I can really vouch for both. Let’s go back to the pandemic, when everything shut down, businesses, schools, shops, it was a really intense time. Because of the nature of my role, covering facilities, health and safety, and environmental compliance, I couldn’t switch off. I was in constant contact with the Health & Safety Executive, councils, and environmental teams, navigating a very complex and fast-changing situation.

I was used to being ready early for work but with having no office to go to, I fell in the routine of working from 6 in the morning until 7 at night some days. I completely lost touch with the things that usually kept me grounded, being outdoors, walking, just having time to breathe. It affected me deeply. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and I wasn’t myself, short-tempered, grumpy, just worn out.

We’re a very outdoorsy family. We love camping, walking, and spending time in nature, but during that period, it all stopped. I felt it, and so did my family. At work, we recognised that a lot of people were struggling, so when we were allowed, people across the business set up activities like walking groups to get people moving and connecting again. We still do those kinds of things now, and they’re so beneficial.

Talking is equally important. Not everyone wants the same type of support, some people prefer speaking to someone they don’t know via our EAP, while others feel more comfortable opening up to a colleague they trust. What matters most is that the support is there and that people know it’s okay to talk.

Have you ever personally struggled with your own mental health?

I’d say I really struggled during the Covid period. I had a demanding job, two kids at home who needed help with schoolwork, and the pressure was relentless. The guilt hit me hardest, not being able to fully support them the way I wanted to. My daughter was a teenager at the time and it was especially hard for her. Unlike my son, who could chat with friends over his PlayStation or Xbox, she wasn’t into that kind of thing. She missed her friends, missed going out, missed having her independence. And I felt responsible, even though logically I knew it wasn’t my fault.

We’d been saving for a long time for a once in a lifetime trip to Disney World. It got cancelled several times because of the pandemic. In the end, we decided to invest in something closer to home, a small summerhouse in the garden. It gave us an extra space to escape to, unwind, and reconnect as a family. That little change made a big difference for our mental wellbeing.

There’s still stigma in the workplace around mental health. Why do you think that is?

My opinion is that generational differences play a big part not just in the workplace but in the wider community. There’s that traditional ‘stiff upper lip’ mentality, especially with older generations, where people were raised to keep quiet and just get on with things. That mindset doesn’t always leave room for compassion or understanding when someone is struggling.

But times have changed, and we’ve all seen how powerful it can be to talk, to share, to support one another. While the professional environment has improved significantly, we still have work to do. Breaking down that stigma takes consistent effort and cultural change, but we’re getting there.

What advice would you give to someone who’s struggling right now?

My message is simple: you are not alone. You don’t have to go through this by yourself. There are people here who care and are ready to help. It doesn’t matter if it’s a colleague, a mental health first aider, or someone through our EAP, what matters is reaching out. Sometimes just saying the words out loud can lift such a weight off your shoulders.