本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Good Morning,
Tomorrow is “Bell Let’s Talk Day”.
I felt the need to send something out on this, especially because I myself sometimes find it a bit ironic when a large, powerful corporation with a seemingly “suck it up” attitude is leading a campaign that is so personal, private and emotional.
But this is probably the best product Bell delivers. It is, in my opinion, indeed that important. Whether every ground level employee or top level executive in our company actually personally agrees with that or not, doesn’t matter. The fact is, Bell is putting a lot of money into a good place. So kudos on that!
Mental Health is a sensitive issue. Even today, in 2014, it is still taboo in many places. Some people may still be embarrassed to say they are seeing a therapist. Some won’t even dare think of seeing one, because of what that might mean to themselves, let alone others. And that is why so many people (1 in every 5 Canadians!) end up dealing with bigger Mental Health issues… which by the way, if we have to measure in “corporate speak” isn’t very good for business either…
None of us are immune to mental illness or mental injuries or even just singular mental health scares. We just choose to ignore them. Just like some people choose to skip an annual physical, or to not get that little lump checked out. Denial is a mental tool, but sometimes it is also a mental enabler that we all deal with. Pretending we are just fine, doesn’t usually make the problem go away.
I personally went through my own tough time as a young adult, growing up gay and deep in the closet in the macho military Israeli culture, I couldn’t for the life of me see a future for me in this world. I was in a deep dark place. One of my close friends noticed and spoke to my mom. When she realized she was not able to get a word out of me, she and my dad scrambled to find me a therapist. They were terrified. They had no idea what was wrong. I was always doing so well in school and was surrounded by so many friends. But nobody knew what was really happening inside. They helped me find my way to an amazing therapist, who literally saved me by the skin of his teeth from taking my life.
I still look at myself in the mirror every now and then and need to pinch myself to realize how lucky I really am. I could have missed out on the amazing life I am living, with my amazing kids and husband. It took a good friend, loving parents and a good therapist to put me back on track to living the healthy, happy life I have today, over 20 years later…
This is why, as friends, as co-workers, we should feel responsible towards each other. And if we see anyone whom we think is having a hard time, we need to be sensitive to that. If we are close enough, we might want to reach out and ask if they would like to talk, or if everything is ok. We may find that sometimes an ear or a shoulder is all someone needs from us, to feel so much better.
And sometimes, we will find that it is way over our head. Please… don’t try to be a professional. If you feel someone you know needs help, urge them to get it from a professional. Trying to help on your own may do more damage than you know.
So back to this day – awareness is everything. Talking about it does make it better. It puts Mental Health on the table. It shows it is mainstream. It proves we all need the freedom to take care of our soul just as much as we take care of our bodies.
Managers get many requests from employees for absence due to dental, medical or other “socially accepted” appointments. How many of you managers out there receive “therapist appointment” requests? I know I never have.
The stigma is there. And our job as friends, family, co-workers… as leaders – is to make it go away.
So a big shout out to Bell for this day.
Support it. Post it proudly on your Facebook page. Celebrate it. Get the word out. Tomorrow, the person needing the support might be you.
“Everyone you know is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”
Thanks and have a great day,更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Tomorrow is “Bell Let’s Talk Day”.
I felt the need to send something out on this, especially because I myself sometimes find it a bit ironic when a large, powerful corporation with a seemingly “suck it up” attitude is leading a campaign that is so personal, private and emotional.
But this is probably the best product Bell delivers. It is, in my opinion, indeed that important. Whether every ground level employee or top level executive in our company actually personally agrees with that or not, doesn’t matter. The fact is, Bell is putting a lot of money into a good place. So kudos on that!
Mental Health is a sensitive issue. Even today, in 2014, it is still taboo in many places. Some people may still be embarrassed to say they are seeing a therapist. Some won’t even dare think of seeing one, because of what that might mean to themselves, let alone others. And that is why so many people (1 in every 5 Canadians!) end up dealing with bigger Mental Health issues… which by the way, if we have to measure in “corporate speak” isn’t very good for business either…
None of us are immune to mental illness or mental injuries or even just singular mental health scares. We just choose to ignore them. Just like some people choose to skip an annual physical, or to not get that little lump checked out. Denial is a mental tool, but sometimes it is also a mental enabler that we all deal with. Pretending we are just fine, doesn’t usually make the problem go away.
I personally went through my own tough time as a young adult, growing up gay and deep in the closet in the macho military Israeli culture, I couldn’t for the life of me see a future for me in this world. I was in a deep dark place. One of my close friends noticed and spoke to my mom. When she realized she was not able to get a word out of me, she and my dad scrambled to find me a therapist. They were terrified. They had no idea what was wrong. I was always doing so well in school and was surrounded by so many friends. But nobody knew what was really happening inside. They helped me find my way to an amazing therapist, who literally saved me by the skin of his teeth from taking my life.
I still look at myself in the mirror every now and then and need to pinch myself to realize how lucky I really am. I could have missed out on the amazing life I am living, with my amazing kids and husband. It took a good friend, loving parents and a good therapist to put me back on track to living the healthy, happy life I have today, over 20 years later…
This is why, as friends, as co-workers, we should feel responsible towards each other. And if we see anyone whom we think is having a hard time, we need to be sensitive to that. If we are close enough, we might want to reach out and ask if they would like to talk, or if everything is ok. We may find that sometimes an ear or a shoulder is all someone needs from us, to feel so much better.
And sometimes, we will find that it is way over our head. Please… don’t try to be a professional. If you feel someone you know needs help, urge them to get it from a professional. Trying to help on your own may do more damage than you know.
So back to this day – awareness is everything. Talking about it does make it better. It puts Mental Health on the table. It shows it is mainstream. It proves we all need the freedom to take care of our soul just as much as we take care of our bodies.
Managers get many requests from employees for absence due to dental, medical or other “socially accepted” appointments. How many of you managers out there receive “therapist appointment” requests? I know I never have.
The stigma is there. And our job as friends, family, co-workers… as leaders – is to make it go away.
So a big shout out to Bell for this day.
Support it. Post it proudly on your Facebook page. Celebrate it. Get the word out. Tomorrow, the person needing the support might be you.
“Everyone you know is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”
Thanks and have a great day,更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net