Client Strategist and Stelter Wellness Committee Chair Kasi Zieminski is here today to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month by sharing insights from the committee.
I am a strong believer that mental health is health. At Stelter, I live into that daily, working externally with our healthcare and medical research clients and internally with colleagues through our Wellness Committee. We offer activities and resources across the eight dimensions of wellness, all of which intersect, overlap and play into our mental health.
Here’s some advice from a few of my colleagues and Wellness Committee members to think about during this Mental Health Awareness Month (and all year round).
Shift Your Perspective
What does mental health mean to you? Clayton Richey, Stelter Data Engineer, says it well:
“Mental health is the other half of our overall well-being. Like physical health enables us to wake up each morning, mental health is the desire to wake up and embrace the day with purpose. It’s not about an absence of mental illness, but rather a state of mind that provides us the capacity to cope with life’s challenges and savor life’s joys.”
Take a Break (With Animals!)
One way Heidi Downs, Stelter Account Executive, savors life’s joys is hitting pause with her pets:
“While several of my clients have had the opportunity to see my pups passing through Zoom while I’m working from my home office, a huge benefit of furry friends and remote work has also been the prompting they give me to step outside. It serves as a moment to take a mental break, get up and move. While outside, I make it a point to take several deep, complete breaths and feel the sunshine on my face. This practice re-energizes me and helps me stay mindful.”
Start Small
Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into your day can be an aspirational goal, but competing priorities often get in the way. Here’s how Heidi develops her practice:
“I’ve found that building a quick 5-10 minutes into my daily calendar and using an app that guides me and provides daily reminders, has helped me create a habit and stick to my commitment. When I spend these 5-10 minutes for myself, I can feel myself relax, both physically and mentally, and know my work is much more focused and purposeful following my meditation sessions.”
Model the Way
Work-life balance or blend doesn’t just happen. We all need to take care of ourselves and each other to prevent burnout and promote good mental health. Rachael Dealy, Stelter Content Team Lead, shares her approach:
“As a team lead, I want to prioritize the mental health of my team members so that they feel supported and valued. Of course, to do this well, I must remember to take care of myself! I try to strike a balance by leading with empathy, staying informed, utilizing available resources like Stelter’s employee assistance program and engaging in open dialogue with colleagues. And at the end of the workday, I shut down my computer and focus on my family. This doesn’t happen without allowing myself to process my day—I’ve learned over the years that I need a bit of transition time before I can mentally show up for dinner.”
Ask for and Accept Help
Time and space for processing are so important. There’s a LOT happening throughout our world, communities, homes and workplaces that affect our personal and professional lives. Some issues and challenges can’t easily be solved by self- and collective-care practices like these alone. So, I’ll add my two cents here to close:
“Therapy! I’ve been going for the last six years, and it would have helped me much earlier/longer than that. If you’ve been thinking about finding a counselor or therapist, now’s a great time to start. Psychology Today has a wonderful online resource that can help you find a therapist near you specializing in the areas you want to explore. If you already have a counselor, but it’s been a while since you’ve seen them, and you’re feeling a little ‘off,’ perhaps it’s time to make another appointment. And if you don’t think it’s for you, I offer this month as an invitation to reflect on that a bit more.”
Mental Health is Health.
We all have it. And we all need different things at different times to be and stay well. Share what works for you in the comments! And take good care, this Mental Health Awareness Month and always.
Resources to Bookmark
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Institute of Mental Health
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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