The first law firm in Ireland to partner with the organisation, Matheson will be placing a four-foot elephant sculpture in its office as “a physical reminder of the invisible challenges that individuals may face in their daily lives and the need for open conversations around wellbeing in the workplace”.

Employees of Matheson will have the opportunity to participate in a competition to contribute their ideas of a design for the elephant, along with a brief explanation of the symbolism behind their concept as well as a name for the sculpture.

The winning design will be selected, and an artist will then bring the winning design to life. The finished sculpture will be revealed at a special unveiling ceremony, celebrating the culmination of this collaborative effort to promote mental health and wellbeing within the workplace.

Matheson managing partner Michael Jackson said: “We are delighted to launch this initiative in partnership with Elephant in the Room.

“At Matheson, we are committed to promoting a workplace culture that prioritises the mental health and wellbeing of our colleagues and this initiative is a testament to the firm’s dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all.

“By placing this symbolic elephant sculpture in our office, we hope to spark important conversations around mental health and continue to create a space where individuals feel comfortable discussing these crucial issues.”

Lorraine Roche, director of HR at Matheson, added: “Our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do, and their wellbeing is a top priority for us.

“The Elephant in the Room initiative will be the focal point for all of our current policies and wellbeing resources, and is a creative and meaningful way for us to demonstrate our continued commitment to supporting mental health in the workplace and to fostering a culture that promotes our values on a daily basis.”

Karl Daly of Elephant in the Room said: “The Elephant in the Room movement is a public awareness initiative created to improve the conversation around mental health worldwide.

“We are honoured to be working with Matheson, Ireland’s only law firm to be a signatory to the Mindful Business Charter. With Matheson’s support we will be releasing our first elephant into the savannahs of legal practice over the coming months.

“Together, we hope this meeting of the physical art with the metaphor of facing whatever you’re most afraid to share and talk about, can be a catalyst for change, for caring and for empathy.”