Are you managing a team of 5 or more? Here’s a stat you really need to know:
20% of your team is experiencing some type of mental health crisis right now. Even if you aren’t in crunch or finalling.
The Canadian Medical Association predicts that mental illness will become the #1 health issue in Canada after heart disease by the year 2020. Those stats can be easily extrapolated to the US – similar demographics, on a scale 10 times larger – and the United Kingdom – 2.5 times larger. That means you have mental health issues on your team today, right now. What are you doing about it?
You are a manager, not a psychologist or a trained medical professional. But you have an obligation to your staff to know what resources are out there to help your team, and most importantly, you.
For each one of you, it’s going to be different based on your jurisdiction, state, provincial or national health service. Your company doesn’t have a policy? Get one. Grow a pair and make it happen, or you will get burned – and it’s going to hit you directly, either because it happens to a friend or colleague in your studio, or it will happen to you.
Mental health isn’t just avoidance of mental illness. Mental health issues are caused by stress in balancing your work with your relationships. That’s all of us in this biz.
What kind of things are your staff dealing with? Here’s a sample:
-Depression.
-Inability to maintain regular circadian rhythms, resulting in poor work performance.
-An abusive or criminal spouse with a psychological disorder, creating immense stress.
-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
-Addiction.
-Mental breakdown.
-Financial issues leading from all the above.
Any one of these adds in a layer of shame and guilt that only makes the situation worse for the person going through it, isolating them from anyone or any resource that could help.
How do I know? Because all of the above happened to me or to people that I worked with. Not only was I fortunate to get the help I needed, I learned the warning signs to look for in the teams I work with, instead of running away or judging others for their perceived moral failings.
People get real nervous when you talk about mental health. Just know your limitations, know your resources, and be ready to help your staff. And yourself.
- Resources
United Kingdom
Mental Health Foundation
Canada
Canadian Mental Health Association
Mental Health First Aid Canada
My Mental Health campaign
USA
National Institute of Mental Health
Mental Health America
IMG Consulting 