What is Mental Health Awareness Month and why do we care?
When many organizations think “wellness” they think physical health. Mental health is health, a critical part of well-being.
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness has set a theme for this year’s goals, “Stigma grows in silence. Healing begins in community.”
I’m a huge proponent of operating as a community in our work lives and our personal lives.
You probably know by now that social connections deliver a key happiness chemical, Oxytocin.
For me personally, when I see a friend, I instantly light up figuratively & literally. My introvert friends tell me that they gain energy from solitude, preferring deep, one-on-one conversations. In my mind, that is still a community, albeit a small one. It also sparks Oxytocin in the brain. So satisfaction is felt. I also get that from deep one-on-one connections, of course.
What can emotionally intelligent managers do this Mental Health Month?
- They can gather their team together & communally share ideas of what mental health means to them.
- They can role model vulnerable behavior to open the door for others to do the same.
- They can pay attention when a team member seems “off.” And then ask them how they’re doing & offer a listening ear or other resources.
- Finally, they can provide burnout Banish Burnout programming such as my Banish Burnout Academy Training & Coaching program.
I am starting to get calls for Mental Health Month programs which consist of one presentation or 3 to 6 months of ongoing coaching.
DM me to learn more at Janice@JaniceLitvin.com or visit JaniceLitvin.com/Academy.