‘Mental Health’ is not a Dirty Word
I recently changed?the description of myself on linkedin, facebook and on my email signature – to?’Inspirational Speaker: Mental Health ‘at Work’.? I think that is what I have always been – a Mental Health Speaker.? Even though I spend each day on topics like resilience, energy, engagement, leadership, team building, optimism, and positive work cultures, I am a Mental Health Speaker.? And, because of a?number of personal experiences surrounding people I care about, I decided that I needed to start using this term more.?
Something strange occurred, however.? As I told people this, and as they noticed it, I got some strange reactions.? ‘Really?’? ‘Why?’? ‘Are you sure?’? were some of them.? One colleague even added, ‘you’ve been so successful describing yourself as an energy and engagement speaker, aren’t you afraid all of your clients will leave you?? Corporations?would rather leave that topic (Mental Health)?to the EAP and out of the workplace, the boardroom or even the conference centre.’??
Well, I think it’s about time to turn that around.? Think about it:? What do we actually want in our organizations ?? We want people who come to work rested and ready to take on the day; we want them to be energized and engaged in their work; we want them to have great relationships so they can collaborate well together; we want them to come up with new ideas on how to make our customers even happier than they already are, and so?on.? Well, guess what – THAT is Mental Health ‘at Work’!
We can build workplaces?that are “mentally healthy”, that give people the permission to be?human; that allow us all to be vulnerable, to express emotion, to empathize freely, and to connect with each other in a?meaningful way.? A mentally healthy workplace is open and welcoming so that people can be at their best, free from judgment.? That, as Brene Brown describes in the video below, is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, change, and high performance that we want in our organizations.?
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Tell me what you think…should I drop the new tag line?
?Deri Latimer, B Mgt, CSP, is an expert in positive possibilities for people! She is one of fewer than 10% of speakers globally who hold the designation of Certified Speaking Professional. Deri combines a Business degree in Human Resources with experience from business sectors including health care, manufacturing, education, agriculture, government, mining, transportation, tourism, and professional services. Deri provides practical strategies for mental health ‘at work’; impacting individuals and organizations?to increase resilience to change, energize engagement with the organization, and propel meaningful performance results that last!? www.derilatimer.com
Absolutely not……. you are awesome, when you present it to any company or person…. they’ll get it.
deb
Thanks you so much for that, Deb! I appreciate it – and believe in the great people I have worked with over all these years. We all just have to start using this term in a ‘positive’ way!
Warm Regards, Deri
Don’t drop the tag line. A lot of what we do working in the schools is about mental health. We need to make that phrase a more comfortable set of words and feelings. We need our kids and consequently our future adults to feel comfortable about achieving mental health and talking about it so they can get it. It’s time to take mental health out from behind closed doors and put it out there and clean up the mening behind it. I also work in mental health facilities and as a mentor with Cognitively Disabled adults. Acceptance can only come from being comfortable with mental health issues. Those of us that can need to help take the fear away from mental health and embrace being mentally healthy.
Fantastic, Muriel! Thank you so much for you thoughts! They mean a lot – to me, and to everyone reading this. Your words make a difference!
Warm Regards, Deri
Keep it, keep it, keep it!
This is a great reminder that Mental Health is core component of “Grooving”, engagement, motivation to improve, etc.
Thanks for keeping it real, Deri!
Kim
Right on, Kim! Thanks so much for that! I love it…let’s start a movement!!
Warm Regards, Deri
Deri, with your strength of character I believe you already know the answer to your question. You go with your gut, it just doesn’t steer you wrong! Bold is what you do – you are ‘being the change you want to see in the world.” Congrats!
Thank you so much for your comment, Stephanie! And, for your kind words. You are right – that screaming gut generally leads you down the right path.
Love that Ghandi quote!!
Warm Regards, Deri
Awesome!!! Loved it!!
Thanks so much for the enthusiasm! It DOES help reinforce that this is the right thing to do!!
Warm Regards, Deri
You’re so awesome Deri. It’s not often that when someone has a high profile they take the time to recognize comments from the masses. YOu make it personal and that is such an awesome gift. Thank you. Mental Health is a huge thing in our lives. I see it in the schools every minute of every day. I see it on the streets as I go about my day. I feel if we could each do one little thing everyday for just one person. All of us would be in a better place. Mental Health is about making the world a peaceful and rewarding place to be. Thanks for inviting us to make a comment.
And so are you, Muriel! I could not agree with you more! We can make a positive change in the world – one voice at a time!
Warm Regards, Deri
Tag line stays….Strength in numbers….
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Murielle…you have a way with words. Thank you so much for adding yours here!
Warm Regards, Deri
Some genuinely great posts on this website , appreciate it for contribution.
Thank you so much, Domingo! I appreciate the comment!
Warm Regards, Deri
Definately keep the tag line. Good Mental Health and the struggle to keep and maintain positive mental health is the core to living a happy and productive life. In our personal and professional lives. It is a lot of work and we need “special” people like you to inspire us. Thank you
Thanks so much, Cheryl! I could not agree with you more!
Warm Regards, Deri
Deri: I think you have done something fun-da-mental here. I encourage you to claim that space and to transform that space for organizations and individuals. “Hairs” to you Deri, and all the best with your mental health speaking.
Thank you so much, David! Coming from an employee engagement expert like you, that is a very meaningful comment. I so appreciate you taking time to add your voice here!
Warm Regards, Deri