How Coaching is Combating Mental Health Stigma for Individuals
- Written by Tim Sprague, Director of ICF Australasia, Executive Coach, and Psychologist
As mental health becomes an increasing priority in public discourse, coaching is emerging as a vital tool in supporting well-being. The International Coaching Federation’s (ICF) latest report reveals that 85% of coaches report clients seeking help with their mental health. Despite this growing demand, only 26% of coaches indicate that more than half of their clients seek mental health support, suggesting a gap in how coaching is being fully utilised in this area.
Coaching is already playing a crucial role in the mental health landscape, but there is room to expand both awareness and application of coaching strategies for mental well-being. As a Director of ICF Australasia, I’ve seen firsthand how coaching can support mental health, but for the profession to thrive in this space, we need to foster greater understanding and capacity within the coaching community.
A key takeaway from the ICF’s report is the need for ongoing training and shared learning. While mindfulness, visualisation and meditation are common tools, the more effective practices of self-reflection, self-growth and self-care are underused. These tools require advanced training and continuous development, yet they remain less frequently applied in practice. This gap highlights an area for significant growth within coaching.
As both an Executive Coach and Psychologist, I’ve seen the profound impact of these techniques in fostering sustainable mental well-being. Coaches need to be equipped with a broader range of strategies to support clients effectively in the long term. This training is crucial as we continue to bridge the gap between mental health challenges and coaching solutions.
The ICF’s report also shows a growing recognition of coaching in the workplace, with 53% of coaches observing an improved return on investment for businesses implementing mental health initiatives. As companies increasingly prioritise employee mental health, coaching is becoming a vital component of workplace well-being programs. For coaching to be truly impactful, it must be integrated into a supportive organisational culture, where trained coaches can work effectively within the unique dynamics of the business environment.
While 77% of coaches feel they have the resources needed to address mental well-being, the report points to a need for greater collaboration and sharing of best practices. Coaches often struggle to access consistent, evidence-based strategies that work across different contexts. Greater collaboration among coaches, through mentorship and knowledge-sharing, will improve outcomes and elevate the overall standard of coaching practice.
Coaching has a tremendous opportunity to impact mental health, but we must continue to invest in education, training, and collaboration to help coaches meet their clients’ evolving needs. The ICF’s report highlights progress, and the work still needed. As coaches, we can help individuals not only manage mental health but also unlock their full potential, personally and professionally.
In the coming years, I believe we’ll see a broader recognition of coaching as a key part of the mental health landscape. However, this requires continued investment in better training, greater integration, and more collaboration both within the coaching community through coaching associations and more broadly with industries.
About Tim Sprague
Tim Sprague is a Director of ICF Australasia, an Executive Coach and a Psychologist with extensive experience in leadership development and organisational coaching. He is passionate about advancing coaching as a core element of mental health support and helping individuals and teams achieve their full potential.
