Dale Skinner, who has bipolar type two, said workplaces were one of the last places he, and many others, struggle to feel comfortable being open about their mental health.

"I didn't feel comfortable talking about my mental health until I was in my early 20s and it wasn't until my mid 20s I was comfortable admitting it to bosses," he said.

"There's a self stigma, you get paranoid about what you think is going to happen, that if you tell your bosses you'll get the sack or that you're not going to get that promotion."

Mr Skinner will share his experience on March 13 at a Personnel Group and RSM hosted event about mentally healthy workplaces. 

He said there was no "golden answer" to teach managers how to create a healthy work environment, but the event was an important starting point for people to hear firsthand experiences and ask questions they might not feel comfortable asking staff. 

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"We need to create environments people feel comfortable talking about their mental illnesses and give managers tools to manage staff," he said.

"Statistics tell us one in five people experience mental illness, and we also know that 75 per cent of people don't seek help. So the chances are that one in five is more like two or three in five."

For Mr Skinner personally, sharing his diagnosis allowed him to feel more comfortable at work. 

"I'm not hiding anything, part of not telling people about mental illness is a self-stigma, you're ashamed, you criticise yourself and you're constantly putting yourself down," he said.

"That self stigma is worse than any stigma out there in the community."

Mr Skinner said openness also benefits businesses. 

"When businesses talk they talk about the bottom line," he said. "They want staff to be at work and be productive.

"If they're managing staff properly and enabling staff communication… it allows someone on a day where they're not feeling 100 per cent to still come to work and contribute.

"Whether there's a mental health issue or not, if an employee is happy at work they're going to be more productive and that rolls through to the customer."

Tickets can be purchased online via Eventbrite for $20 per person using the following link.

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