Courageous Conversations: Prioritizing our mental health & wellbeing

As much of the world sees the hopeful aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health support in the workplace has become more critical than ever. In addition to the pandemic, the last few years have also seen a number of factors that have incrementally compromised our collective mental health, including political unrest, a rise in hate crimes directed at the Asian, Jewish, and  LGBTQ+ communities, along with the murder of George Floyd and other Black Americans. Mental Health Awareness Week and First Aiders in the UK and This is Me Asia help to normalize conversations about mental health and how personal concerns can have society-wide implications.

We connected with a few of our colleagues around the world to find out how they address their mental health challenges and the ways Bloomberg provides them – and other employees – with support.

Why do you feel addressing mental health is important?

Hallie Bendell, Human Resources, New York: Workplace mental health is more important now than ever before. Since the pandemic, several major stressors have unfolded in quick succession, which has had a significant impact on our collective mental health. There are a lot of people who never experienced any type of mental health conditions, but developed them during these turbulent times. And because conditions like anxiety were new to them, they had no way of knowing how to deal with it and what resources were available.

Then there’s the stigma around mental health. Until recently, the conversation has been primarily centered on preexisting mental health conditions and the related sigma. But now, it’s important to focus on the effect that stressors can have on everyone’s mental health, which requires a shift in the way we approach these conversations. It’s a collective problem that everyone should be aware of, even if you don’t struggle with mental health conditions yourself, because you’re likely going to interact with someone who does. 

Was there ever a time when you were apprehensive sharing that you needed to address your mental wellbeing? If so, why?

Yukako Ito, Data Management, Tokyo: Mental wellbeing cannot always be seen externally, so I felt that expressing it would lead to being judged or to my emotions being dismissed. I find myself being apprehensive when I’m in a new environment, especially one where I need to lead by example. It’s hard to not think, “if I don’t share, I can’t be hurt.”

I struggle a lot with anxiety and seasonal affective disorder, and sometimes I’ve felt that I couldn’t talk to anyone regarding my feelings or how it might impact my work. It’s weird to start a conversation with “Hey, by the way, I need adequate daylight to reduce my depressive episodes.” I soon realized it was important to share. How else would others also feel comfortable talking about mental health? Ultimately, I want to create dialogue and normalize that not being okay is okay.

Steffen Wiederspahn, Engineering, Frankfurt: I have always found it difficult to talk about my feelings. We never really talked about them in my family. When I was seriously ill a few years ago, I noticed how much I suppressed my feelings and how this had a negative effect on me, my family and friends. I thought it would be better for everyone if I hid my feelings so as not to drag others down with them. But exactly the opposite was the case and so I hurt others rather. That was also the point where I told myself that I had to change something. It was a long way to open up but I do not regret it at all. Fortunately, today I am completely healthy. 

How has Bloomberg supported you? Any specific resources that are helpful?

Yukako: My mentors and managers are my biggest support systems. Before, I was afraid to accept that my decreasing mental health was impacting my physical health, and my ability to bring 100% of myself to work. The turning point was when my mentors and managers created a judgment-free space to be open and gave me the time to listen. They were honest and even shared their experiences with similar struggles.

Another helpful resource was the psychiatrist I had access to through Bloomberg’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP). I met with them on a recurring basis and got book recommendations on sleep habits and other useful tips to stay on top of my mental health.

What do you do when you feel you need a mental health tune-up? 

Steffen: I know this sounds a bit cliché, but the best way for me to regain energy is to play sports or be out in nature. It also helps me when I meet with my family and friends on a regular basis. Music also plays an important role by helping me relax.  

What do you wish people knew more about mental health care? 

Hallie: We are all unique, and how mental health conditions look and feel from one person to the next is no different. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach; it is different for everyone. Just because someone may look like they’re not struggling on the outside doesn’t mean they’re not struggling on the inside. Don’t make assumptions about what your colleagues or direct reports need because each of them will most likely need different things at different times. Symptoms of mental health are just as common in senior managers as they are among individual contributors. Sharing your own struggles with mental health, modeling healthy behavior, and creating a culture of openness can do a lot to normalize and help support mental wellness at work. 

To join Bloomberg and other employers who are taking a proactive stance to combat burnout and improve mental wellbeing of their people, check out the following resources for further reading, and sign-up for our D&I event mailing list to be invited to future conversations around this topic. Please help us further normalize the conversation among your networks by sharing and posting this article.

Further reading:

• You can learn more about Bloomberg’s efforts to support employee wellbeing, such as our short-term counseling referral program for employees and their dependents, here.
• Mental health matters
• An intersectional approach to LGBTQ+ mental health in the workplace