Tag: mental health support

Chipotle To Offer Mental Health Benefits To All Employees

Chipotle employees and their family members will be able to meet with a licensed counselor via phone, online or in-person.

Chipotle recently announced its newly expanded 2020 employee asistance program. The company which has around 80,000 employees, will be expanding its 2020 employee asistance program to include mental health support, financial wellness and discounted gym memberships.

Employees and their family members will have access to the programs even if they don’t have health insurance through the company.

“This is just the beginning of how we’re strategically investing in the well-being of our employees and their families,” said Chipotle’s Chief People Officer Marissa Andrada in a statement. “Our vision for people is to create a culture where employees can thrive and pursue their passion and by extending access to all levels and enriching our Employee Assistance Program, we are ensuring that our employees can build mental fitness and bring their best selves to work every day.”

Chipotle employees and their family members will be able to meet with a licensed counselor via phone, online or in-person.

Starbucks To Offer Headspace

Coffee giant Starbucks made headlines in September when CEO Kevin Johnson announced that the company would be putting the spotlight on mental health.

“The more thoughtful we are about creating a range of benefits that matter to our partners — that helps us attract new partners,” Johnson told CNN Business. “Over this past year, one of the things that partners have highlighted is the need for increased focus on mental health.”

The company’s current employee asistance program offers short-term mental health assistance. By January, the company plans to offer employees’ subscriptions to Headspace, an app that teaches users how to meditate.

More Needs To Be Done

While these efforts are a step in the right direction, they are merely a drop in the bucket for fast food workers who are put in a high-stress situation for mininum pay. Inadequate staffing, and unrealistic drive thru times add to the mental health strain felt by these workers.

A study from Mental Health America found that out of 17,000 employees, the food service industry ranks among the top 3 unhealthiest workplaces along with retail and manufacturing.

A report by SAMHSA found that food service workers have high rates of subsatnce abuse and heavy drinking as a result of their high-stress jobs.

View the original article at thefix.com

12 November 2019
K-Pop Star’s Death Reflects Online Harassment, Lack Of Mental Health Support

Sulli was known for being outspoken and was considered “controversial” in conservative South Korea.

The death of K-pop star Sulli has triggered an important conversation about online harassment and the lack of mental health support in South Korea.

The 25-year-old singer and actress, born Choi Jinri, was found in her apartment around Seoul on Monday (Oct. 14)—shocking those who remember her as “a girl that was beautiful and cheerful.”

Though no official cause of death was released, many suspect suicide.

Sulli was a member of K-pop girl group f(x), which she left in 2015.

Sulli Addressed Online Bullies, Mental Health

The Associated Press noted that Sulli was unique in that she confronted criticism she would receive on social media for being different, and had a “feminist voice and outspokenness that was rare among female entertainers in deeply conservative South Korea.” Not only did she speak up about mental health and online bullies, she was a fearless feminist—yet another reason for people to criticize her.

To help people understand just how much scrutiny K-pop stars are under, NPR explained:

“Women in the K-pop industry are particularly scrutinized and harassed accordingly online—whether for reading a book that allegedly promotes feminism, for wearing clothes that are too scandalous on stage, or even just for sporting a phone case that reads, ‘Girls can do anything.’ These types of ‘scandals’ have been exacerbated as Korea experiences both a growing feminist movement and a backlash against it.”

In Sulli’s case, she was shamed for “wearing shirts without a bra, getting drunk on social media, calling older male actors by their first names and openly supporting South Korea’s recently revised abortion law,” The Washington Post noted.

A Tragic Example

Sulli’s death is one tragic example of the unimaginable pressure and scrutiny that K-pop stars—often referred to as “idols”—face.

“Celebrities must smile even when they don’t eat or sleep well. They must be sexy but never have sex. They must be tough but never get into fights,” said Kim Dongwan of the Korean boy band Shinhwa.

The K-pop machine is also often described as a “Hunger Games”-like industry that is fiercely competitive in churning out young people who embody all around perfection—“the dark underbelly beneath K-pop’s gorgeous, glittering facade,” as Variety put it.

Kim Jonghyun’s Death

Back in 2017, the release of the apparent suicide note of K-pop star, Kim Jonghyun, the lead singer of boy band SHINee, shed light on his private struggles. “I am broken from [the] inside,” the note read. “The depression that had been slowly eating me up finally devoured me and I couldn’t defeat it.”

Kim also said in the note that his doctor blamed his personality for his struggle with depression, Variety reported at the time.

More in the industry are speaking out. Taeyeon, a member of Girls’ Generation, was blunt about her emotional state during a question and answer session on Instagram this year.

“I am suffering from depression. I am working hard to get better through treatment with antidepressants. Whether it’s depression or bipolar disorder, please don’t ‘tsk’ and treat people disrespectfully. They are all patients who are suffering,” she said.

View the original article at thefix.com

18 October 2019
Parkland Students Find Ways to Cope with Trauma of School Shooting

The survivors of last year’s horrific school shooting are creating their own channels of healing.

In the aftermath of the Parkland school shooting, some survivors have created unique outlets to channel their pain.

Many are still haunted by what happened on February 14, 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

The impact of the horrific event lives in each survivor, many of whom are struggling to cope with the trauma of what they witnessed. This year, two Parkland survivors died by suicide—16-year-old Calvin Desir and 19-year-old Sydney Aiello, who graduated last year.

To bring awareness to the mental health challenges of trauma survivors, People magazine recently caught up with six Parkland students. While they are each battling the trauma within, some have transformed their pain to help others.

Carlos Rodriguez, 18, created Stories Untold, a Twitter-based platform for victims of gun violence to share their stories. The platform has created a community of support and activism for not only Parkland survivors, but anyone affected by gun violence.

Eden Hebron, 16, is processing the trauma with a therapist. It has helped her, but unfortunately, she says, not everyone is open to therapy. “Some families still consider it, like, ‘Oh, it’s a shrink. Are you going to talk your feelings out?’”

Hebron has created a mobile app to help people find ways to cope with stress, anxiety and depression. With her app, people can learn ways to address these symptoms.

“So many kids have anxiety,” Hebron told People. “This shooting impacted people all over the country. This app is a way to give them the tools to help themselves.”

Kai Koerber, 18, launched Societal Reform Corp, a non-profit organization working to establish mental health programs in schools. “We need to put mental health on equal standing with gun control,” said Koerber.

Today, the need for mental, emotional, and trauma support is greater than ever. These young people are leading the charge and doing the work to provide themselves and others with effective coping strategies.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget what I saw in that classroom,” said Hebron. “You can try to imagine, you can try to sympathize… but nobody understands how it feels to be in a room and literally feel, ‘These are the last moments of life.’”

View the original article at thefix.com

1 May 2019
British Royals Launch "Mental Health At Work"

The new online resource for both employers and employees seeks to take the taboo out of discussing mental health at work.

Continuing their campaign to promote mental wellness in the UK, the British Royals have launched a new effort to support workers’ mental health.

According to a survey of more than 44,000 workers conducted by the mental health non-profit organization, Mind, nearly half of workers in the UK (48%) have experienced mental health problems at work. On top of that, only half of these individuals have addressed their issues with their employer.

Mental Health at Work, the new online resource for both employers and employees on improving mental well-being in the workplace, seeks to bridge this gap and take the taboo out of discussing mental health at work.

According to the Mind survey, by training employers on how to promote workers’ mental health, they will feel more confident in supporting their staff. In turn, staff who had a supportive employer or manager reported that they were far more comfortable opening up about their mental health at work.

The goal of the new online resource is to provide information, resources and training for employers and employees who wish to address mental well-being in the workplace.

“We know that employers want to do more and are starting to see mental health as a priority, but often don’t know where to start. The new online Mental Health at Work gateway will change that,” said Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, in a statement. “Even small changes to policy, approach and workplace culture can make a really big difference to the mental health of those around us. No matter the size of your workplace, and no matter where you work, Mental Health at Work can help you find what you need to start or continue your journey to better workplace well-being for everyone.”

The website offers a variety of toolkits pertaining to different situations—some of them include “Promoting a positive culture” and “Tackling Stress in the Workplace.”

Mental Health at Work is just another arm of the British Royals’ campaign for mental wellness. Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry launched Heads Together in 2016 to change the conversation about mental health in the UK and urge Brits to be more vocal about their struggles with mental health.

“There are times when, whoever we are, it is hard to cope with a challenge—and when that happens being open and honest and asking for help is life-changing,” said Prince William last year. “Talking to someone else is a positive and confident step to take, but for too long it has been a case of ‘Keep Quiet and Carry On.’ As a result, too many people have suffered in silence for too long, and the effects of this can be devastating.”

View the original article at thefix.com

13 September 2018
Taraji P Henson Launches Mental Health Foundation

The “Empire” star launched the foundation in honor of her late father who battled mental health issues.

Actress Taraji P. Henson has launched a foundation to promote mental health support for the African American community, in honor of her late father Boris Lawrence Henson, who she said struggled with mental health issues.

According to its official website, the three main goals of the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) are to provide mental health support in urban schools, increase the number of African American therapists, and to reduce the prison recidivism rate.

Through her foundation, Henson is targeting the African American community specifically to eradicate the stigma around mental health issues, hoping to break the silence and encourage the community to be open about their struggles.

“African Americans have regarded such communication as a sign of weakness and our vision is to change that perception,” said Tracie Jenkins, executive director of BLHF, according to People.

“One in five Americans suffer from mental illness. African Americans are the least likely population to seek treatment,” according to the BLHF website. “We are taught to hold our problems close to the vest out of fear of being labeled and further demonized as inapt, weak, and/or inadequate.”

Henson launched the foundation in honor of her father, Boris Lawrence Henson, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 58 after battling liver cancer.

“I named the organization after my father because of his complete and unconditional love for me; his unabashed, unashamed ability to tell the truth, even if it hurt; and his strength to push through his own battles with mental health issues,” said the Empire actress.

“My dad fought in the Vietnam War for our country, returned broken, and received little to no physical and emotional support. I stand now in his absence, committed to offering support to African Americans who face trauma daily, simply because they are black.”

The foundation will provide scholarships for African American students majoring in mental health, and work with urban school districts to support mental health therapists, social workers and counselors for African American children in need.

“African American youth in this country are exposed to trauma daily. Issues like poverty, mass incarceration and violence plague the lives of many of our children, leaving them scarred and anxious,” according to the BLHF website. “Yet many of the children facing these problems rarely get the therapeutic help they need, carrying the effects of these issues into adulthood.”

The website continues, “Instead of stigmatizing mental health issues, we must normalize the issue. We must learn to equate the importance of emotional health with the importance of physical health. Needing help is not a shame, the shame is in the inability and fear to do so.”

View the original article at thefix.com

15 August 2018
YouTube Creators Detail Their Mental Health Struggles

“My life just changed so fast. My anxiety and depression keeps getting worse and worse. This is all I ever wanted, and why…am I so unhappy? It doesn’t make any sense. It’s stupid. It is so stupid.”

For many, having a YouTube channel with millions of subscribers would be a dream come true. From the outside, it looks like a fun way to avoid having a real job and rake in a ton of money. But it’s certainly not as easy of a life as it looks. There’s a lot of pressure to keep cranking out content to keep your channel going, and there’s no promise of a steady income.

As Engadget reports, a number of YouTube creators have been speaking out about their mental health struggles. One YouTube creator, Elle Mills, who has over one million subscribers, posted a video called “Burnt Out at 19,” where she said, “My life just changed so fast. My anxiety and depression keeps getting worse and worse. This is all I ever wanted, and why the fuck am I so unfucking happy? It doesn’t make any sense. It’s stupid. It is so stupid.”

Many YouTube creators also feel the pressure of having to constantly crank out content without a break. Jacques Slade, whose channel has close to one million subscribers, tried to take several days off and relax, but he panicked. “I don’t have content for the next four or five days,” he said to himself. “What’s that gonna do to me? What’s that gonna do to my bottom line? When I come back, are people still gonna watch my videos?”

Where people with “regular” jobs can count on a regular paycheck, people with YouTube channels make money depending on how many ads their videos have, the length of the videos, and how many people are tuning in. With Google’s ad guidelines, videos can be removed for trivial reasons, which can cut down on a creator’s income. And it isn’t just the pressure of cranking out new videos that can take its toll. There’s also the fear of not staying relevant with a very fickle audience.

As Karen North, a professor of communication at USC explains, “For YouTubers, the entire relationship [with their audience] is based on what they upload. Therefore there’s a tremendous amount of pressure to maintain not just the quality but the image that they manufacture on a daily basis… [If someone is] absent due to illness or vacation for a few days, audiences want entertainment, and they won’t just wait for next week’s episode. Instead they’re going to go search for something else to fill their time.”

One full-time YouTube creator, Sam Sheffer, still recommends taking mental health breaks from social media, “even if that means not uploading for two weeks. As long as you do things with the right intent and come back strong, things will work out.”

To try and make YouTube a healthier environment for creators, the company has now set up a $4.99 membership fee for some channels and others can sell merchandise from their pages to boost their income as well. (You have to have at least 100,000 members to charge the membership fee, and you have to have over 10,000 subscribers to sell merchandise.)

There has also been an effort to provide YouTube creators with mental health services, and there have also been support groups at events like the VidCon conference.

One YouTube creator says, “I’d like to see YouTube take a more active and actionable role in helping creators outside of the platform, which itself still needs a lot of work.”

View the original article at thefix.com

18 July 2018
Mom & Daughter Pair Teens with Mentors to Support Mental Health

“Through that process I found out there is a humungous community of people suffering here in my own backyard.”

Today Maddie Jenkins is a thriving 17-year-old, but three years ago she was struggling–the Virginia native attempted suicide twice within 18 months.

“When you’re suffering from something that could be the smallest bit of loneliness or stress and there’s seven other people in the house, you start to feel super unimportant,” Jenkins told NBC 4 Washington. “Eventually, I got to a point when I hit rock bottom and I couldn’t take much more. I felt like there was no purpose.”

Her mother, Danielle Renken, realized that not only did she need to help her daughter, but also encourage other families to have difficult conversations about mental health.

“Through that process I really found out there is a humongous community of people suffering here in my own backyard,” Renken said

Their experience led Jenkins and Renken to start 12 Great Dates. The organization facilitates “dates” for teen girls and a trusted adult. Each date covers a different topic, ranging from bullying, social media, make-up and more. The events encourage teens and adults to come together to discuss tough topics. The hope is that this will help prevent mental health crises among teens.

Renken said that it is more than just a suicide prevention program: It’s also helping prevent self-harm and other symptoms of mental illness.

“There’s a lot of attention right now on suicide, but there are thousands more struggling with self-harm, with isolation, with depression,” she said. “And sometimes those can lead to an attempt or a suicide, but sometimes they’re just left lonely right where they are.”

Jenkins and Renken also hope that by initiating conversations they can help chip away at the stigma surrounding mental illness.

“Mental health is no different than diabetes or anything else,” Renken said. “You get them the support they need, you get them the help they need and you learn as much as you can to make sure you’re three steps ahead of whatever is coming next.”

Jenkins knows firsthand that this can make all the difference for teens who are struggling.

“It’s just that, being like I said, to take the overwhelmance off your shoulders and just come and have a good time and feel like you’re normal,” she said.

By hosting dates, she is helping provide other teens with support that they can rely on when they need a bit of extra help.

“I think we’re building, like, a little family, so that if you come in, you’re welcome,” Jenkins said. “Like, this is like, ‘Wipe your feet on the mat and come on in.’”

View the original article at thefix.com

18 July 2018