our social-change campaign to co-create stigma-free workplaces offers an alternative stigma-free story with an empathy plot.
a story of hope.
a book we want all of our children to read.
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Mental health stigma festering in our workplaces is keeping far too many suffering in silence and in shame and far too many from reaching out for needed support. And, when those who summon up the courage to reach out, despite stigma, for mental health support at work, are their pleas being answered? Or, are they getting laid off or fired? Or leaving voluntarily because they don't feel supported?
According to 2021 Harvard Business Review article, 89% of workers report a decline in their well-being since beginning of the pandemic; and, 39% of U.S. employees agreed their mental health is worse today than in January 2020. Yet almost three-quarters (74%) of over 4,300 respondents across 50 States in a recent survey said their companies have not invested in their mental health needs since the onset of the pandemic. Hopelessness is the leading predictor of suicide. Are our workplaces helping to shift people from a state of hopelessness to a state of hopefulness, and offering hope? The Great Resignation, coupled with increasing suicide rates, clearly suggests the answer is a resounding no. Something has to be done. We must eradicate stigma in our workplaces, rebuild corporate cultures on a foundation of empathy and provide needed mental health programs and supports. We simply have to provide our employees with hope. This is where our grassroots social-change campaign comes in to co-create stigma free workplaces built on a foundation of empathy with needed mental health programs and supports in place. This campaign however is not about building on the business case for doing so. It's about presenting the human case. We are calling on you to help us do so. We need your help to affect real change and to tear down the wall of stigma. This is also where our Founder's personal story comes in: the other 'why" behind this campaign. personal NOTE FROM OUR founder ABOUT WHY SHE STARTED this MOVEMENT: her workplace experience
WE'RE presenting the human case. BUT WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. WE NEED YOUR HELP.We are now moving to galvanize mental advocates and concerned citizens to show Corporate America and workplaces across the world, we have had enough. The wall of stigma must come down. We must have empathy, kindness, compassion and caring in our workplaces. We must offer our employees the needed mental health programs and supports. Not only does it make business sense, it makes common sense. It makes human sense.
If those who are concerned, particularly those with lived experience who have suffered stigma or been fired or laid off because of mental health discrimination, stand together and collaborate, we can interweave a more inclusive story both persuasive enough to change society and powerful enough to shine a light on what the future should look like. A future of no stigma. A future with where we lose fewer precious souls far too soon. A future of mental wellness. A future of hope. A future where we all can flourish. Let's work together to create stigma-free workplaces by sharing our lived experiences. A key to ending stigma (please read systemic discrimination) is to humanize it with storytelling. Per Patrick Kennedy's insight regarding suicide, we don't need to intellectualize stigma, we need to humanize it. We need to do the same with mental health stigma in our workplaces. about Accelerating mental wellness campaignAccelerating Mental Wellness is now underway, officially launching with a press release and corporate sponsor in January 2022. In preparation for this, we are galvanizing mental health advocates and concerned citizens from around the globe to show the world our collective support for stigma-free workplaces through sharing of selfies and stories.
Given our unique lens, we can shift workplace cultures and change the workplace in ways other stakeholders simply can not. Our voices of insight, pain and suffering can influence and shape understanding on a truly deep and human level. |
kerry martin, chair, United states
chief purpose officer, FOUNDER & Mental health activist, accelerating social goodERIc kussin, supporting Chair, United states
Founder, #SameHere globalErin Macauley, Chair, AUSTRALIA
chief Hope officer & Mental health activist, accelerating social goodNatasha Tracy, Chair, Canada
Mental health aDVOCATE, AWARD-WINNING WRITER, SPEAKER & SOCIAL MEDIA CONSULTANT, NATASHATRACY.COMhitesh gupta, CHAIR, INDIA
Mental health activistLeanna Lee, Campaign contributor
FUTURE OF WORK AND WELLBEING WRITER, CO-HOST OF BETTERMENTAL |
How do we hold workplaces accountable? how do they become certified stigma-free?If workplaces meet our stated Workplace Wellness Criteria, developed in collaboration with mental health advocates with lived experience, and take a pledge to abide by these criteria, they will be able to download our Accelerating Mental Wellness certification logo. By doing so, they are also agreeing to a one-year compliance check up.
If, on the other hand, they do not yet meet the criteria, they must pledge to taking the following steps during the onboarding process: 1) meet out stated criteria within a reasonable time frame; 2) hire a Wellness Strategist (or equivalent) to drive needed changes in the workplace or, if budgets do not permit a new hire, designate an internal team member as the point person; and 3) agree to a one-year compliance check up. How can you help? 3 simple Ways for you to supportThis is a rallying cry to advocates and concerned citizens to come together. To share our selfies and our stories in a collaborative and coordinated campaign to accelerate social change on behalf of those who are suffering in silence and shame. With must step up and speak out, a calling more salient in light of the Great Resignation.
Whilst it is easy to build a business case for workplaces to integrate mental health access and programming as a benefit, let's come together to do the hard work. Let's build a human case for rebuilding our workplaces on a foundation of empathy and caring. If you are a mental health advocate or concerned citizen of the world, please consider joining us and raising your voice. Let's all stand up and be heard. And together, be so loud that eventually they must not only listen but TAKE A PLEDGE to either acknowledge the importance of this initiative or take concrete steps to create a stigma-free workplace with appropriate mental health programming and supports for employees. [1] Support with a Selfie and help us build our wall of solidarity in place of the wall of stigma. Upload a headshot and stand alongside other fellow advocates and concerned citizens in support of this campaign.
[2] Support with a Story and help us build our human case. The business case is a no brainer. Upload a personal story speaking to an issue touched on by this campaign. For example, work place stigma (read discrimination) you have experienced in a previous or current workplace and how it impacted you or your life choices; how a lack of empathy and caring in your workplace has affected you; why you feel it is important for workplaces to adopt a more empathic and supportive environment, as well as mental health programming and supports, for those struggling with mental health concerns.
[3] Support with a share (after Jan go-live): Help us raise awareness by sharing in your social channels. After all stories are curated and social media calendar is finalized, you will be notified when to share your story and the appropriate campaign hashtags to use. You are also free to share other advocate stories along with our general campaign social content.
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