World Mental Health Day

Tomorrow is World Mental Health Day. And while this is the 28th year we are marking the occasion, the conversations we are having—and indeed need to have—about mental health sound a lot different this year. 

We know that mental health is a spectrum. For some, the pandemic means they have lost access to the critical services they need to support themselves. For others, it means they are experiencing unfamiliar and harmful levels of anxiety or depression as the stress of managing work, unemployment, familial responsibilities, and isolation continue to take their toll.

The challenge ahead of us as a global community is a big one and (due to the pandemic, looming US election, and racial injustice) it’s getting bigger. The question I ask myself is: what can we do? What can we do to create a mentally healthy and supportive work culture? What can we do to minimize the stigma and make people feel seen and heard, regardless of where they are on the spectrum or in their mental health journey?

There is a saying I frequently come back to which is: if you want to change the world, start with yourself. I care for my mental health by focusing on the “3 Es”, a framework I learned from Dr. Kavita Patel who spoke to our company on numerous occasions about physical and mental health during the pandemic. They are: exposure to sunlight/air, emotional wellbeing, and exercise. I also routinely journal and meditate, which have become increasingly important practices over the past several months. As CEO of Verizon Media, I also think about how we can continue to evolve as a company to meet our employees’ mental health needs throughout the year.    

At Verizon Media, we are committed to driving greater awareness and creating a mentally healthy culture through education and open dialogue. In addition to the programs and resources we have offered for several years now, like our mindfulness program, Employee Resource Group and Employee Assistance Programs, this year we expanded our partnership with Made of Millions Foundation to launch Made Academy, which is a workplace mental health curriculum to educate and provide resources to help our employees navigate and care for their mental health. We also partnered with Mind Share Partners to create a workshop tailored specifically for leaders to help them recognize the signs and take action to support their colleagues and teams. 

I think it will take each one of us to change the world—starting with ourselves, leading by example, and creating safe spaces for others to do the same. I’m very proud of the work Verizon Media has done to help move the global community to a place of greater acceptance and awareness, but as I think about the year ahead, I’m coming back to the original question: what more can we do?