Breaking the Silence: My Journey to Emotional Wellness in the Workplace

As we wrap up Suicide Awareness Month, I find myself reflecting on a deeply personal journey that has shaped my mission to promote emotional wellness in the workplace. Today, I want to share this story with you, not just as a professional in the field of emotional fitness, but as a human being who has faced the darkest depths of depression and emerged with a renewed purpose.

The Mask We Wear

How often do we hesitate to speak up about our struggles, thinking, "This isn't the right place" or "I shouldn't share this here"? We worry about crossing professional boundaries, fear judgment, or appearing vulnerable. But here's the truth we often forget: we are all humans working in organizations. We are real people with real struggles and complex pasts, no matter how polished our professional facades may be.

A Personal Revelation

My work in emotional wellness and fitness, and my passion for teaching leaders how to recognize burnout, isn't just a career choice—it's a calling born from personal experience. In 2010, I found myself in the grip of severe depression. I wrote a suicide note, ready to end it all. From the outside, I was loved and supported, but no one truly knew the turmoil raging within me. I was the friend everyone should have "checked on," but I was too busy being busy for anyone to notice.

The Turning Point

This experience became the catalyst for my mission: creating psychologically safe workplaces where people feel comfortable expressing their true selves. I realized the crucial importance of normalizing conversations about mental health and fostering an environment where asking "How are you really doing?" is not just acceptable but encouraged.

A Recent Reminder

The urgency of this mission was reinforced recently when, after a training session, a participant reached out to me saying, "I need help. I'm struggling emotionally, but I'm expected to show up every day for my corporate job. I don't know how much longer I can hide. "This confession underscores the critical need for emotional wellness support in our workplaces. We must recognize that our colleagues are whole people, carrying invisible burdens that affect their work and well-being.

The Importance of Emotional Well-being at Work

Emotional well-being goes beyond just feeling good. It's about developing the ability to practice stress-management techniques, build resilience, and generate emotions that lead to positive outcomes. In the workplace, it involves creating a "culture of health" that supports and nurtures the overall well-being of employees.

The Benefits Are Clear:

• Lower healthcare costs

• Increased workplace satisfaction

• Larger return on investment for employee health programs

• Decreased employee complaints

• Improved productivity and engagement

  
  

Creating a Culture of Wellness

So, how do we move forward? Here are some key steps:

1. Normalize conversations about mental health

2. Align company values with managerial actions

3. Implement wellness programs that address stress management, mindfulness, and mental health support

4. Offer personalized solutions for employees' emotional needs

5. Provide various communication channels for employees to seek help

   
   

Remember, behind every professional title is a human being with their own struggles, triumphs, and needs. By fostering an environment of openness, empathy, and support, we can create workplaces where everyone feels valued, understood, and empowered to seek help when needed.

Let’s break the silence around mental health. Let's make every month an opportunity for awareness and support. Because when we take care of each other's emotional well-being, we're not just creating better workplaces—we're saving lives. 

Latisha B. Russell