Why we're wearing green: Sparking conversations that matter

By Suzanne Davis-Darling 

When the calendar reminder first popped up for Wear it Green Day, a few of the team couldn’t help but roll their eyes. It felt like one of those symbolic gestures that come and go, rarely making a lasting impact. One team member was so frustrated, they asked me, “How is wearing green going to change anything?”

But that question sparked something more meaningful than we could’ve anticipated.

It turned into an honest conversation. One that continued at our team meeting the next day, where we explored a bigger issue: why is it still so hard to talk about mental health in the workplace? What barriers are stopping people from opening up, and what can we do to break them down?

Because the truth is, mental health struggles are far from rare. In the UK, one in four people will experience a mental health problem each year. Despite this, conversations around mental health at work are often avoided, dismissed, or quietly brushed aside. The stigma still lingers, and for many, the fear of being judged or treated differently is very real.

This silence can have serious consequences including burnout, absenteeism, and even people feeling they have no choice but to leave their jobs. That’s why creating a culture where people feel safe to speak up isn’t just nice to have. It’s essential.

At webdna we continue to take steps to shift this culture. Coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Week we hosted one of our regular Paws in Work Master Classes on the theme of Community. It focused on how connection in the workplace can support mental wellbeing. 

And today, we’re proudly promoting Wear it Green Day. Not because we think wearing a colour fixes anything, but because it brought the topic to the forefront. It gave us an opportunity to start talking and to keep talking.

At webdna, these aren’t tick-box exercises. They’re part of a broader effort to make wellbeing and mental health a visible, everyday priority. We want our team to know that these topics are not taboo. 

Because talking about mental health doesn’t make us weak. It makes us human. And it’s only by opening up these conversations that we can create workplaces where everyone has the chance to thrive.