There is no health without mental health: Reflections from a returner in project management

I want to open up and acknowledge that behind every polished LinkedIn post or well-run project meeting, there are stories that often go unseen. Stories of struggle, small victories and quiet resilience. This year, as Deputy Lead of the Women in Project Management (WiPM) Interest Network, I felt it was the right time to share mine.

Returning to work, rebuilding confidence

When I returned to the world of work after a career break, I felt excited but also anxious and uncertain. I was entering a different phase of life, navigating my identity as a professional while raising two young children. I worried that my skills were outdated. I was older than many of my peers. I wondered whether I would belong.

At home, I was juggling the beautiful and chaotic demands of parenting two boys who were then aged seven and four. They could bring me to laughter and joy in one moment and leave me overwhelmed in the next. The transition back into working life was not a smooth one, but it was a meaningful one.

The right environment makes all the difference

I feel very fortunate to have returned to Mott MacDonald in 2022. From the start, I found an environment that supported me in ways that truly mattered. Flexibility, understanding and a culture of inclusion allowed me to balance professional responsibilities with personal priorities. I did not have to choose one over the other.

Currently, I am on secondment to Great British Nuclear, where I have experienced a similar culture of support and encouragement. Feeling welcomed and trusted in both spaces has given me the confidence to keep growing professionally.

Mental health is not a one-time check

Even with supportive structures in place, mental health is not something you manage once and move on from. There have been days when everything felt like too much. I have battled postnatal depression. I have doubted my own worth. I have felt like I was walking around with my head on fire and no one could see the flames, to borrow a phrase from Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive.

Mental health challenges are not always visible. And that is exactly why they must be spoken about. For me, it has been the quiet, everyday moments of kindness and understanding that have made the biggest difference. My husband, my children and my colleagues have lifted me through difficult times. They have reminded me of my worth when I could not see it for myself. My wider support system of family and close friends has also been a steady presence during hard times.

The realities of working motherhood

My husband is an orthopaedic surgeon and his work often needs to come first. While he is a wonderful partner and father, much of the day-to-day responsibility at home has fallen to me. This has been especially true during the crucial early stages of returning to work. It has not always been easy to manage it all, but with help from the right people and a supportive workplace, I have found a rhythm that works for us.

Finding purpose in community

Joining the WiPM network as Deputy Lead has been one of the most rewarding steps in this chapter of my career. Even in a short time, I have been inspired by the passion, energy and generosity of the network. Under Irene’s leadership and alongside a dedicated team of volunteers, WiPM continues to champion gender equity in project management. Being part of this work feels incredibly meaningful to me.

A quote that grounded me

One quote that helped me during difficult times comes from Morticia Addams: “Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” It reminds me that everyone experiences life and challenge in different ways. There is no universal standard for wellbeing. No single definition of what coping looks like.

Creating a culture of shared care

Mental health is deeply personal, but it’s also shaped by the culture we live and work in. It’s not enough to encourage people to take time for themselves if the systems around them make that difficult. What helped me the most has not just been traditional ideas of self-care. It has been shared care. Being part of a team that checks in. Working in a space where people talk openly about wellbeing. Being surrounded by colleagues who value each other as whole people.

Not just for the crisis moments

Mental health support should not be reserved for moments of crisis. It should be something we tend to regularly, just like physical health. During my experience with postnatal depression, I found comfort in small everyday rituals. Baking. Journalling. Reading. But what helped me most was giving myself permission to stop pretending everything was fine.

The power of empathy

I want to speak especially to those who are returning to work after a break. Those who are managing caregiving, rebuilding confidence or trying to find their place again. Please be kind to yourself. Be gentle with others. Ask twice. Offer help. Share your story. Often, the people who seem like they are coping the best are carrying the heaviest loads.

If you are in a leadership role, know that empathy matters. And if you have ever felt like you are behind or not good enough, please know that you are doing better than you think.

Mental health is part of who we are. Let’s keep the conversation going. Let’s create spaces where everyone feels safe, seen and supported. And let’s make sure that in our industry, in our teams and in our projects, people are not just surviving — they are thriving.