It's World Mental Health Day

When I joined the workforce, we didn't talk about mental health. In fact, it was common to joke about employees "going postal" if they were pushed too far.

At the time, surviving the daily mental mind fields was even seen as a badge of honor, so many employees simply complained to family and friends and found a way to deal with it. That is not to suggest that these challenges don't still exist, but there's been a shift. We are finally acknowledging the impact on our mental health.

Each year on October 10th we celebrate World Mental Health Day. The day, created by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), was first celebrated on October 10th, 1992. And this year's theme (It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace) could not be timelier after the recent pandemic.

In addition to the uncertain future brought on by the pandemic, employees struggled to create work/life balance, and voice concerns about societal inequities some saw in the workplace. This forced employers to make time for uncomfortable, but necessary, conversations because it was impacting their employees. Now that the pandemic is over and many companies have returned to the office, there is resistance to returning to the way things were. And employees are no longer shy about letting their employers know how their decisions are impacting their mental health.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMN), a part of the National Institute of Health (NIH), it's estimated "more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (59.3 million in 2022; 23.1% of the U.S. adult population)." This means either you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness. Since most adults spend a large portion of their day at work, employers are incorporating mental health tools and coping strategies there.

Today employers offer employee assistance programs, discounted gym memberships and fitness tools (e.g. Fitbits), counseling support via health insurance, and opportunities to discuss mental health via webinars. But I think the most valuable change has been a shift in the way we speak about mental health. It's now commonplace to hear an employee say they are taking a mental health day to relax and unplug.

I'm definitely someone whose benefited from the shift in the workplace. I spent many years providing 24x7 support, never taking more than a couple days off, and often working with no backup and limited staff. If an issue occurred and one of our systems went down, I knew I had to put everything on the back burner and work to resolve it. Along the way I worked a ton of weekends to support changes, missed funerals and holidays, ducked out of a wedding to work from my car, and took numerous calls from different rooms while visiting with family and friends. I accepted that it was part of the job.

Today I better understand the long-term impact of working that way, and why it's important to advocate for myself and those I work with. Yes, I accomplished a ton and learned a lot. But I was often so tired that self-care fell to the bottom of the list. That was one of the biggest lessons I learned. Neglecting self-care when you are the most stressed may give you some time back, but it's when you should lean into it the most. The time you take to rest, eat well, and exercise actually increases your overall well-being, and can even help you to be more productive.

As we celebrate World Mental Health Day, I encourage you to prioritize your mental health. This includes reaching out for support when you need it. Talk to a friend or family member you trust, search for a licensed therapist, or call the national mental health hotline. Created in July 2022, the hotline is available by dialing 988. When you call, you will be routed to a counselor who can assist you.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health crisis, please reach out for help. You do not have to figure it out on your own. Let someone help you.