Op_n

Built to help businesses and schools with anxiety, depression and social pressures.
iamopn.com

In a nutshell

Op_n was created to help schools and their pupils with improving the wellness of their people, the most important thing.

They do this through structured conversational programmes, getting people talking and opening up new channels of communication.

The founder

Ash Ledran founded Op_n in 2019 after experiencing poor mental health support at work and hearing of many others suffering from the same traditional methods businesses have in place.

Sketching the initial ideas out on a BA napkin on flight back from Finland, he’s since spoken all over the world, campaigning for better mental health for everyone.

The work

For schools…

Talk+
A complete mental health and wellbeing workshop. Run by Op_n, they provide you with either full, half day or smaller workshops.

The Lite workshop
The lite workshop is teacher-led. Op_n provides all the tools, materials and support needed to run a shorter workshop yourself.

For businesses…

Company workshops
Op_n work with teams and businesses of all shapes and sizes with workshops designed to address issues with anxiety, depression and social pressures.

Making the mental health and wellbeing of all staff, equal. Regardless of company role or time employed. Truly putting people first can make a huge difference.

Op_n offers virtual or in-person sessions up to 15 people. And it’s pay what you think it’s worth, with any donations funding a free session for a school in need.

Why we love them

First off — Ash is one of the nicest people we know. A digital marketer by trade, Op_n is Ash’s moonlight project, founded to help get everyone talking about mental health.

Anxiety and depression often have their roots in early experiences at school. But, as Ash knows himself, the support structures often aren’t there for students. And for many, recent events will have only made existing issues worse. It’s no different at work. Most businesses lack the right framework to properly engage people about mental health issues.

Op_n is tackling this head-on. Using techniques developed in-house with his team of tutors and therapists, their goal is to facilitate better conversations between peers. Or, as Ash puts it, to “end awkward silences” around mental health.

The workshops aim to get people talking to each other about their feelings and experiences in an organic way, removing any of the pressure or prejudice so often associated with those conversations.

Oh, and did we mention it’s completely free for schools?

Support

Find out more about their work at iamopn.com.

Check out the Op_n blog where the team regularly share tips and practical advice.

If you know a school or business that could benefit, get in touch with Ash.