Will it ever be OK to not be OK?

When I was a little girl (many of my stories begin like this), my heart was set on becoming an actress, not just any kind of actress – I was going to be famous!! Little did I know, my career would, ironically place me smack bang on a stage as a much less famous but indubitably passionate and committed Mental Health Advocate. I really don’t think I’d have known what any of this meant 30 years ago.

It’s taken a large chunk of my early life to understand my ever present feeling of being different and somewhat disconnected from the world, cohabitating with a personality that ranges from massive highs to debilitating lows and not a lot in between. I experience crippling loneliness, insecurity, paranoia and times when I wish to dissolve due to the overwhelming mayhem that I now recognise as anxiety. Thankfully, this condition also gifted me a super slick brain and mega fast processing skills that have helped me realise I probably live with something similar to what they call Bi Polar - although I prefer endearments such as “eccentric”, “unusual” and “it’s so You!!!” … But who needs a label??

I’m often asked how I balance life with too many jobs, my own practice, a hectic household, coupled with dinner party events that entertain more people than a half price night at Smorgys! Well, here it is people, I DON’T STRESS, but I do experience anxiety and depression - these states of being are rather different beasts. 

Stress is generally a common response to a situation where a person feels under pressure, it usually passes once the stressful situation is resolved. For me, an anxiety attack takes hold like a demon and unexpectedly transports me to a place of such gasping panic that sometimes feels like I’ll never catch my breath …. but I always do….

Mainly because I’ve figured out that having mental health challenge in no way impedes my ability to be a successful, happy and valuable human being.  I've got a pretty good handle on managing my mental health.

There are many ways in which I do this, but the most critical factor in how I deal is largely due to the environments in which I frequent. 4 Different roles and 24/7 timetable, I clearly love and adore going to work - after my cherished and beautiful family; it’s what gets me up in the morning. “What I do” makes my heart beat, defines and gives me purpose. The experience of validation, safety, care, kindness, acceptance and too many other great feelings are empowering. 

Just the other day at Who Group, a few of us were having a very open, volleyball style, cross office discussion around our experience of anxiety and depression (I’m not alone in the world). Conversations like this are natural in our workplace and we’d be more likely discriminated against for not doing Kitchen Duty than be judged on our mental health confessions.

Here starts my rant around why addressing mental health in the workplace is so important and my reason for creating this blog.

Shockingly, in many Australian workplaces, disclosing a mental health challenge can negatively affect people’s security, rendering them vulnerable to all kinds of things.

In a recent article, (Sydney Morning Herald-13 Apr 2015) beyondblue CEO, Georgie Harman had some simple advice around disclosure in workplaces where there was little awareness of mental health issues: 

“Don't, because you might not get that promotion, you might get the sack, there might be repercussions." 

A shocking state of affairs that so often ends with horrific consequences.

In order to illustrate how this may compute, I finally found a use for the only mathematical equation I ever really embraced - Grade 5 BODMAS with Mrs Marshall.

• Brackets Take an Australian workforce that employs close to 12 million people
• Order At least 7 suicides that occur every day in Australia (5 of which are men)
• Divide There are more than 2 million actively trading businesses in Australia
• Multiply Three million Australians experiencing depression or anxiety or both. 
• Add For every dollar spent on improving or supporting the mental health of people in the workplace, a business reaps an average return of $2.30. For some industries the average return on investment (ROI) is even higher.* 
• Subtract By not addressing mental health in the workplace, 10.6 Billion dollars goes down the drain.* (*PWC (2014). Creating a mentally healthy workplace - Return on investment analysis)

My dubious attempt at using cross stick styled mathematics aside: I think it’s indisputable that bringing a call to action around how people are feeling in your workplace is critical and becoming increasingly important and relevant. 

In delivering our characteristic and tailored workshop series "Creating Environments that Support Mental Health", it's endlessly inspiring to partner with organisations that acknowledge a successful and sustainable future can only be achieved with a healthy, qualified and motivated workforce!

Remember, it's okay not to be okay, and kindness and care can save lives...