Tuesday Mar 22, 2022

We need to destigmatize mental illness at work.

CW // Suicide

“What I didn’t realize (about bipolar disorder) was that my mental illness was fueling my success,” says Natasha Bowman, Founder & President of Performance ReNEW and Author. Natasha continuously poured herself into her career as an accomplished HR Executive and Consultant and believed that her work defined her. When she attempted suicide one unbearable night, she realized that her professional burnout was untreated depression. After finally evaluating her mental health, Natasha shares her story to destigmatize mental illness in the workplace and promote a kinder, more aware world.

There is minimal emphasis on mental health in the workplace. Though some environments may provide physical wellness resources, health insurance typically fails to provide enough coverage for adequate therapy. Nor are there actual therapists on-site to support workers. Natasha argues that company cultures need to change to ensure that work no longer creates or exacerbates mental health issues for employees.

Tune into this week’s episode of Problem Performers for a crucial conversation on mental health and professional life. Learn more about Natasha’s mental health journey, the long-term psychological impact of the pandemic, and what employers can do to address mental health in a life-saving way.

Quotes

• “I’m always asking, ‘You have privilege. What do you do with your privilege?’ It’s not about being ashamed of having privilege. It’s about what you do with that privilege. Lend your privilege to others.” (4:59-5:08)

• “What I didn’t realize (about bipolar disorder) was that my mental illness was fueling my success… I was always, I know now, in a manic episode. I lived in mania. I could go nights without sleep. You feel like you’re on top of the world. You can accomplish everything. People would ask me as a Black woman, “How can you walk in the room so confident?” I just thought, “Oh, that’s just me. That’s my personality.” But it was the mania that fueled my career in a positive direction. It wasn’t until Covid happened… that I realized I had wrapped who I was into my career and profession. And when that was taken away from me, I didn’t know who I was anymore.”(6:04 - 7:50)

• “You are enough. Set expectations for yourself, and make sure those expectations are reasonable. Sometimes my best is to sleep all day, and that's all I can do. And everybody has to be okay with that.” (19:07 - 19:31)

• “Black women are the most educated population in America, but the most left behind. You hit that ceiling and have gotten the degrees and the certifications but can't get ahead. Sometimes, that seat at that table that we want is uncomfortable, and we don't want to be in it. We don't want to sit at every table. Set your own table.” (20:07 - 20:40)

• “I have to remind myself, you are enough, just as you are. And you don't need validation and confirmation from any organization, because if they are not giving that to you, they don't deserve you.” (21:45 - 21:56)

• “Most workplaces focus on physical wellness. They're providing gym memberships, weight loss programs, nutrition programs, steps, challenges, all these things, for your physical health. And we need that, but there's no real resource for mental health. So, it's looking at what resources you are providing and including mental health in your health insurance because it isn't enough.” (22:21 - 22:57)

• “Many organizations have an occupational health office or workforce health and safety office. If we have faculty injured at work, I can go there, and they'll patch me up. Why don't we have a therapist on-site? Why don't we have someone, where if I'm being bullied, experiencing a toxic work environment, or I'm just feeling sad and depressed, or struggling with my mental health for other reasons, I can go there or at least pick up the phone and talk to someone?” (23:23 - 24:04)

• “I don't care what resources and benefits you provide. If I'm walking into a toxic work environment that's not promoting mental wellness, then that's an issue. There are no resources that are going to accommodate for that.” (24:11 - 24:28)

• “We're just not addressing the long-term impact of this pandemic…We are not even discussing how we go back, reflect, and heal from what we just went through for almost three years.” (37:39 - 38:05)

• “It took me a while to accept that I was someone living with a mental illness… Even in my own head, there’s a stigma around it. And I have to talk myself off the ledge, ‘That's okay. One in five people in the US suffers from it. It's more common than a heart attack or stroke…’ Once you accept it, then you're able to figure out how to live with it.” (40:29 - 41:11)

• “There was a reason that I woke up on January 26. I don't know how I woke up. I just knew what I needed to do. I'm turning that pain into purpose so that others can wake up to their feelings and not have to be so solid anymore. If you're not suffering, wake up to those that suffer, and provide them with support, resources, and empathy. That's the keyword there because that's what's missing when it comes to mental illness.” (46:03 - 46:50)

Links

Natasha’s Survey on mental health: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K5CVVSG
Natasha LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashabowmanjd/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_workplace_dr/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NatashaBowmanJD
Natasha’s website: https://performance-renew.com
Pre-Order for her new book The Power of One: Leading With Civility, Candor, and Courage
And check out her previous book: You Can't Do That at Work: 100 Legal Mistakes That Managers Make In The Workplace
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line: Text Hello to 741741

We need to destigmatize mental illness at work.

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