I’ll start with the disclaimer, I’m not a Psychologist. What I can say is that I’ve seen the inside of a few dark holes. I’ve personally experienced the nine yards of burnout, depression and building a life on the other side. I’ve experienced a lifetime alongside my family who suffer from extensive mental health issues that cover anxiety, depression, overdose, addiction and suicidal thoughts. I live in the Newcastle community and work in technology, building digital products and understand its high pressures. I’ve seen it in startups and now in corporate environment. Now I help others, as a mental health first aid responder in a corporate setting in the mining industry. My corporate colleagues can reach out to someone who understands the pressures of working full time and the fear of slipping too deep—of reaching a point where exhaustion turns into something darker. Should my colleagues find themselves in that hole, i’ve come out of it and so can others. I’ll share experiences and link them to the workforce and how people can create sustainable practices that will allow them to survive the pressures of working in digital technology development. I’ll talk about seeking psychological help, maintaining mental health, and—most importantly—making those strategies stick. Because staying afloat in a high-pressure industry isn’t just about surviving. It’s about finding ways to thrive, with mental health a part of every step.