A lot of guys in the Catchy crew stache’ up year-round, but come November those fuzzy little lip warmers carry a bit of extra meaning.
Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are problems that a large portion of our team struggles with. As tough as these things are on their own, we’ve found that they also have the habit of being exacerbated in the workplace. Whether it’s pressure, expectations, or stress, these things can add up to unbalance even the most stable of us.
Dealing with mental health alone can be tough. As such, we’re always working to find better ways to support each other personally and professionally. As we’ve worked towards creating a more open workplace environment to talk about mental health, we’re taking the opportunity during Movember to contribute to the dialog and share some of what’s worked for us:
- Vulnerability: Often, we hold ourselves to the expectation that it’s not okay to not be okay. We get caught up in our work and feel the need to show up as 100% healthy all the time, even when that’s not the case. It takes a lot of vulnerability to be real with ourselves and recognize when things aren’t quite right.
- Communication: From there, communication becomes one of the keys to navigating a depressive or anxious time in the workplace. Mental health can have a huge impact on our attitude and ability to get things done. Being able to practice vulnerability and communicate to those around you (bosses, peers, etc.) is an amazingly helpful practice. It can help get you the support you need from your team, alleviate additional workplace stress and find compassion from the people you’re surrounded by.
- Compassion: For yourself and for others. It’s okay to not be okay. Take a sick day if you need to. Let others help you. Use your benefits and go see a therapist. It’s important that everyone works together to create a culture where mental health can be talked about and supported, just like an injury or a family emergency.
The conversation about mental health goes far beyond those who identify as male. As such, we’re also encouraging anyone reading this to also consider supporting the following organizations that address mental health for everyone: NAMI, Project Semicolon, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.