Deri's Blogs

‘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

 

 

What Clients Say...

“Deri, you are the best! Not a dull moment and the time went too fast!”
Linda Borbridge, Manager, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
“I’m often asked to recommend a professional speaker who will captivate and motivate, and without hesitation Deri Latimer comes to mind. Deri has a reputation for a no-nonsense, energetic, synergistic approach. Her cutting-edge sessions are the perfect combination of science and inspiration and will have you moving into a new groove.”
Dr. Lewena Bayer, CEO, Civility Experts Inc.
“Deri is the personification of quality, style, and enthusiasm in her message. She delivered a message with our group that heightened their awareness and ability to share success. My hope is that you too will seek her out as a keynote, connector, and catalyst for change.”
Joseph Bork, Program Director, St. Mary’s University
“I am usually the type to sit in the crowd, quietly take it all in, and take notes, notes that end up in a binder, often never to be seen once I return to work. Deri was engaging, fun and as real as they get. I was so moved by her session that I shocked myself by approaching her after the session to chat. During the session I didn’t need to take notes because her concepts hit home and stuck with me. I have already taken her advice and acted on her tips and tools to be more positive. Her positivity is contagious and her message is one that everyone should take time to listen to.”
Amy Normal, VP, Corporate Services, Said Business School, University of Oxford
“I had the privilege of hearing Deri keynote at our conference. She captivates, motivates, and positively engages an audience with her unique combination of wisdom about neuroscience and positive behaviors that can be life changing when put into action. I would recommend her without any reservation for those seeking a speaker who can move an audience – from associates on a manufacturing floor to members of an executive leadership team – into action. Her takeaways are designed for positive impact. Prepare to laugh, to be curious, to be hungry for more time to listen to Deri.”
Vickie Maris, Host, Agile Digital Business
“Deri, your seminar truly resonated with our team. You took the time to learn about our roles, our challenges and opportunities and created an inspiring and motivating seminar just for us and made an impact with every person there. Having your book to use as a tool in our day-to-day has also been very valuable and has enhanced the results we got out of the time with you. We all hope that we will see you again at the next conference!”
Chantelle Arsenault, GBA, Great West Life Assurance Company of Canada
“It was an absolute pleasure to have Deri speak at our AGM. Deri brought an amazing level of passion and energy as she engaged our members with her talk on growth mindset. If you are looking for a speaker to connect with your audience, I would highly recommend that you reach out to Deri. Thank you, Deri – we were lucky to have you!”
Rob Chester, Director Information Security, Wawanesa Insurance
“A wonderfully authentic speaker with an infectious positive energy, Deri takes the crowd back to the roots of inspiration by sparking something within the humanity of the people in the room. Her fantastic sense of humor and knowledgeable way of integrating experiential learning opportunities into an inspirational message makes her a speaker not to miss!”
Ashley Collette, Social Work Officer, Canadian Armed Forces
“I forgot to take notes because I was taking it all in and feeling change take hold…”
Derek Rumboldt-Delouche, Director, Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada
“That was fantastic! That was the most energized I have ever felt leaving a conference!!”
Barb Spurway, Principal Consultant, Protegra
“I cannot exaggerate how positively our Forum delegates reacted to your presentation. You set the perfect tone for the entire conference and left a lasting impression on our delegates and CPA staff alike.”
Sarah Marshall, President, Canadian Physiotherapy Association
“You changed people.”
Michelle Kletke, Human Resources Manager, TNG, Jim Pattison Group