Last week, J&J Editorial celebrated our second annual Mental Health Week, a program of daily events and resources put together by our Wellness Committee. Mental Health Week is a tangible representation of two of our core values: to create a supportive, positive environment where employees are treated with respect and to create a family-friendly work environment that facilitates a healthy work-life balance. We want to thank everyone for supporting such a worthy cause and offering assistance and suggestions.
The National Institute of Mental Health Disorders finds that 26% of Americans ages 18 and older have a diagnosable mental disorder, and approximately 18% of people ages 18-54 have an anxiety disorder in any given year (via John’s Hopkins Medicine). These numbers reflect a reflect the reality of the occurrence of mental disorder in America, one that affects not only the individual but also the workplace, as described by the World Health Organization:
Infographics © WHO “Out of the Shadows: Making Mental Health a Global Development Priority” 13-14 April 2016, Washington DC.
We at J&J want to do our part to foster a healthier, happier, and more productive workplace. Throughout Mental Health Week, we enjoyed a daily schedule of activities intended to promote mental health, including moderated discussions, a stress management workshop, and lunchtime yoga.
A key aim of our Mental Health Week effort is to destigmatize talking about mental health. By normalizing conversation about mental health topics, we hope to foster an environment where people feel more comfortable talking to their coworkers and management when they need help.
If you or someone you know could benefit from professional assistance with mental health, we urge you to seek professional advice. You can also check local resources in your area and within your own company or HR department. We are certain that every little bit counts. Happy Mental Health Week everyone!
Included below are some helpful readings, podcasts, and other resources to help raise awareness about mental health and give folks some strategies for improving their overall well-being.
Disclaimer: We are not doctors or mental health professionals. We are speaking from our personal experience and hope to empower folks with new tools for improving their overall wellbeing. Please use this resource list as a means to find ways to better understand mental health, community, and self-care, but not as a replacement for certified professionals.
Apps
Websites
Podcasts
Further Readings
- Here’s Why Meditation is So Amazing for Your Mental Health
- 11 Best Hobbies for Mental Health and Happiness
- Creative Activities Like Baking and Knitting Boost Mental Well-Being
- Here’s How Finding a Hobby Will Improve Your Mental Health
- How Video Games Can Help Anxiety
- 22 Ways to Practice Emotional Self-Care Letting Go
- Battling the Physical Symptoms of Stress
- 7 Tips for Making Peace with Chronic Pain and Illness
- How to Be Sick (Second Edition): A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers
- How to Live Well with Chronic Pain and Illness: A Mindful Guide
- Disabled People Call Out Things Non-Disabled People Don’t Realize Are Offensive
- Beyond Self-Care: Understanding Community Care and Why It’s Important
- 5 Ways To Incorporate Community Care in the Workplace
- http://autistichoya.com/– Resources on ableist language
- Feeling Anxious? Here’s a Quick Tool To Center Your Soul
- Belonging At Work: Everyday Actions You Can Take to Cultivate an Inclusive Organization
- 21 Ways to Reduce Stress During the Workday
- Stress Journaling
Yoga With Adriene:
- Yoga For Stress Management | Yoga With Adriene
- Difficulty: Easy, slow, low flexibility
- Stress Melt – 26 Min Yoga Break | Yoga With Adriene
- Difficulty: Easy, more movement
- Respect and Replenish | Yoga With Adriene
- Difficulty: Easy, more movement
- Other good options on her channel:
- Yoga at Your Desk (~6 min)
- Office Break Yoga (~14 min)
- Yoga for Neck and Shoulder Relief (~18 min)
- Self-LoveYoga (~50 min)
- 30 Min In-Office Practice
- Yoga for Concentration and Mental Focus (~27 min)