Have you ever struggled to have a conversation about mental health in the workplace? It can be hard for both employees and leaders to know how to have these conversations. In this episode, Amanda Morin talks to her co-host Talli Dolge, who is joined by her colleague Dr. Trina Clayeux, the CEO of Give an Hour. Talli and Trina share the work they're doing with a Mental Health Pod Squad made up of representatives from multiple nonprofits to change these conversations by approaching them through the lens of hope.

They dig into how stigma can play out at work and share details about the Hope Continuum Model and the Mental Health Pod Squad's Hope Continuum Model, a framework designed to empower employees and employers to move from talking about problems to focusing on solutions and giving people hope.

The chat highlights how important it is to talk plainly about mental health and to take everyone's unique experiences into account so that everyone can understand and get help when they need it. Listen in to hear more about creating workplaces where everyone feels supported and optimistic.

Takeaways

• Transformational thinking and a collaborative effort are needed to make significant changes in addressing mental health in the workplace.

• The Mental Health Pod Squad is a collaborative group of mental health nonprofits working together to create change and innovation.

• Leadership and innovation are crucial in the field of mental health to address the diverse needs of individuals and communities.

• The Hope Continuum Model aims to flatten stigma and empower individuals in their mental health journey, providing a framework for understanding and addressing mental health in the workplace.

• Shifting the conversation to hope can make discussions about mental health more empowering.

• Empowering individuals to define their needs and providing choices in support can lead to more effective conversations.

• Democratizing knowledge about mental health and avoiding stigmatizing language can create a more inclusive and supportive environment.

• The Hope Continuum Model can be implemented in organizations to create a more hopeful and supportive workplace culture.

Related Resources:

Give an Hour

Stand Together

Have you ever been asked to "circle back" or "put a pin in that" in a meeting? Workplace jargon and buzzwords are the worst! On this episode, hosts Amanda Morin and Talli Dolge talk to Karin Bilich, Head of Content at Noom about the importance of using plain language for effective communication. Karin, a content creator, storyteller, and health tech executive, highlights the power dynamics associated with using specialized language and the exclusionary effect it can have on others.

She emphasizes the need for clear communication in healthcare and why she thinks the integration of health tech is crucial to improve patient experiences and outcomes. Listen in as she provides advice for leaders on how to communicate effectively to make people feel heard, understood, and empowered.

Takeaways

• Jargon and acronyms can create power dynamics and exclude others in the workplace.

• Plain language and understanding the audience are crucial for effective communication.

• User testing is essential to ensure that communication is understood by the intended audience.

• Biases in communication can have a significant impact, and training is needed to address them.

• Effective communication should make people feel heard, understood, and empowered.

• Public health campaigns should aim to empower individuals and address their fears and anxieties.

• Connection, self-awareness, and empathy are crucial in effective communication.

• Clear communication is essential in healthcare, and health communications should be integrated into the patient experience.

• Leaders should prioritize creating a safe environment for communication and focus on achieving buy-in from their team members.

Related Resources:

Five Steps to Plain Language

Plain Language in Business

The Center for Plain Language

About Our Guest:

Karin Bilich is an award-winning executive bridging the gaps between healthcare, health tech, and health communications, Karin's mission is driving healthy behavior change and working towards a world with health equity for all.

Karin has worked for over 20 years as a content creator, storyteller, and health tech executive. Now with a masters in health communication, she is leading the creation of engaging, informative and innovative digital solutions and effective content and communication strategies to improve life outcomes.

Karin is currently the Head of Content for Noom, a well-known behavior change app. She has previously worked in content and communications for Understood.org (a not-for-profit organization aiming to improve life outcomes for neurodivergent individuals), as well as other healthcare and parenting-focused organizations, including Columbia University Medical Center.

If you've ever had a bad boss, you're not alone. But what are the qualities of a good boss? And why are trust, empathy, and authenticity so important in leadership? On this episode, hosts Amanda Morin and Talli Dolge talk about why they're talking about leadership, share their own stories of good bosses, and hear listeners talk about the good leaders they've had. Amanda and Talli share personal stories of leading in professional settings while navigating neurodivergence, anxiety, panic disorder, and agoraphobia. Listen in to learn more about the skills that listeners say make a good boss a great leader. And learn how Talli text talked Amanda through a leadership convening!

Takeaways

• Leadership is a really hard job, and even harder when you're neurodivergent or have a mental illness, like severe anxiety.

• Good bosses share a common set of qualities: They’re trusting, compassionate, supportive, and have the ability to show up and back off as appropriate.

• Asking your employees, "What do you need?" and really listening to the answer can positively change the dynamics of a work relationship.

• Good leadership requires self-reflection, learning from failures, and the ongoing effort to lead empathetically and intentionally.

• Workplaces have come far from a "Lead, follow, or get out of the way," mentality, and it's time to explore other ways of leading.

Related Resources:

Words Matter: Why You Should Rethink Using “Vulnerability” in the Workplace

The Empathetic Edge: Cultivating Leadership That Empathizes, Engages, and Empowers

About our guest(s):

Amanda Morin: Connect with Amanda on Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and Facebook or visit Amanda Morin Consulting, LLC

Talli Dolge: Connect with Tallli on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads or visit A Mindful Workplace

Get ready for The Empathetic Edge, a podcast about empathetic and intentional leadership. Join us this season as co-hosts Amanda Morin and Talli Dolge talk to people across the workplace spectrum about everything from jargon and plain language to how to bridge generational divides as the workplace gets both older and younger to how to make workplaces better for neurodivergent employees and those who struggle with mental health.