How to talk about mental health in the workplace.

Culture First: How to talk about mental health in the workplace

Another thank you to my co-worker Anna for collaborating again on this month’s edition of the Ally Podcast Club. Like last month, it was great to have someone to help select the episode and co-host. If you have the opportunity to work with someone else in your own club - I highly recommend it.

This month we decided to tackle a topic that has been on our minds in the past but continues to be something we look for ways to open up better conversations at work about this sometimes-taboo topic and that is mental health.

The episode is from a new to the club podcast series called Culture First and features a conversation between the host Damon and Professor Jane Burns and author Adam Smiley Poswolsky. There are some really great points made in the discussion about how the pandemic has impacted depression and loneliness, why mental health is such an important topic for companies to not just give lip service too, and how we all can better support our team members and teammates.

Suggested discussion questions (if you need something to start the conversation):

• What role does a company/organization play in positively and negatively impacting mental health?

• Do you believe your company/organization is doing enough when it comes to mental health?

• How have you seen the pandemic impact your own lives and the lives of those around you when it comes to loneliness and mental health?

• What’s one thing you think you might be able to do to better support those around you?