#28: Mental Health Helpline; Ethics vs. Incentives; Lobbying; Anonymous Support

In this episode of Beyond the Bubble, Andras sits down with Jeremy Jennings, a Brit in Brussels who spent decades at one of the largest global accounting companies before moving into full-time mental health volunteer work.Jeremy reflects on his career from Arthur Andersen to EY where he worked closely with EU institutions on regulation, risk, and liability. He offers an insider view on how large firms engage with policymakers, manage conflicts of interest, and navigated the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008. The first part of the conversation explores the limits of risk management, the tension between commercial pressure and ethical judgment, and how distance and perspective shape better decision-making.The discussion then moves on to how Jeremy became president of Community Help Service (CHS), an English-speaking, anonymous mental health helpline in Belgium that has evolved from practical expat support into a lifeline for thousands dealing with anxiety, burnout, depression, and suicidal thoughts. He describes how the service operates, how volunteers are trained, why anonymity matters, and what the rising volume of calls says about mental health today.Throughout, the episode connects themes of responsibility, perspective, and service, tracing a clear line from high-level corporate risk to the very human realities of listening, care, and community support.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-jennings-obe-1276665/https://www.chsbelgium.org/