You’ve probably heard of the Protestant work ethic from the renowned sociologist Max Weber’s classic treatise, “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,” which links Puritanism to modern capitalism. …

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On a music streaming service this morning, I happened to hear one of the many recorded versions of the song “No Man Is an Island,” which I remembered singing it at summer…

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If you practice mindfulness meditation, you probably know that it can lower your stress level, reduce anxiety, and improve low moods. You might also be aware of its health-improving properties. According to the National Institutes of Health, mindfulness meditation may be able to reduce your blood pressure, help you cope with chronic pain, and even make it easier to fall asleep at night. But did you also know that by meditating, you’re also developing cognitive skills that can enhance the benefits of psychotherapy?

When you meditate — and by “meditate” I’m referring to mindfulness meditation, with no disrespect intended toward other forms of meditation — you probably focus on an ongoing, present stimulus such as your breathing. You might choose some other consistent sound in your environment, like street noise, wind through tree branches, or even the hum of an air conditioner. hat these stimuli have in common is that their presence continues from the immediate past into the present moment, and can help you draw your attention to the now. No matter what has distracted you, when you’re meditating and you catch your attention drifting away, you can always return to that ongoing, current stimulus because it’s always there to come back to.

And when you redirect your attention this way, you’ve probably learned to do it nonjudgmentally, with no particular frustration or sense of burden. No matter how many times you get distracted — no matter how often you need to bring your attention back to the present — you’ll need to do it without punishing yourself. This is part of the job of meditation: choosing not to be frustrated with minor diversions, but just catching your thoughts if they’ve wandered, and bringing them back to your focal point once again.

Learning to do this can take patience. It also requires the ability to stand back from your own thoughts and feelings, lest they overcome your intentions and sweep you away from your meditative focus. Perhaps the best analogy might be sitting on the bank of a river as boats and other objects float by. You’re not in the river; you’re watching it flow, just as you can watch your thoughts and feelings drift into, and then out of, your awareness. You know, even as you notice these items coming into view, that the river will soon carry them away again, and that you don’t need to take action at this moment. This sense of distance from your thoughts and feelings, no matter how strong they are, can help you avoid being swept up in the current of emotion caused by a passion or a frustration, or distracted by the thought of a pressing problem. When you notice that your meditative state has been disrupted by one of these ostensibly urgent thoughts or feelings, you simply recognize it and let it float away, down the river.

These skills and abilities — the ability to stay present, to gain distance on your thoughts and feelings, and to correct yourself non-judgmentally — can also accelerate the benefits of psychotherapy. For example, in therapy you may be confronted with difficult memories, turbulent feelings, or perspectives that challenge your outlook. You may be told you’re struggling with chronic, intrusive thoughts or critical self-judgments — possibly the introjected relics of a significant relationship in your past. You might even come to realize that you are contributing more to your own problems than you’ve previously understood. Challenging moments like this can be hard to accept, and difficult to comfortably sit through. But if you’ve developed your ability to stay present, and to tolerate the stimuli that intrude upon the present moment, you may be better at hearing your therapist’s interpretations without rejecting them. This meditation-therapy connection was identified in a 2007 study by Daniel Siegel, who found that the self-observation developed in meditation could change the brain, loosening the connections established by prior learning and allowing new input — that of the present moment — to be integrated in a new way. In other words, as Siegel sees it, being present gives you new tools to understand yourself and helps you to unlearn your prior, potentially mistaken assumptions.

Similarly, meditation skills can help you cope with the intrusive comments or interruptions posed in therapy by a person other than your therapist: yourself. People who habitually criticize themselves can have trouble hearing alternative interpretations, or thinking about themselves in ways other than the harsh ones they’ve learned. Now consider how much easier it might be to cope with this kind of regular self-criticism if you’ve developed the ability to gain distance on your own thoughts, as you do when you meditate. You’ll have learned to view these habitual, critical “voices” as something separate from yourself, and you’d be better able to protect your own self-esteem by recognizing the intruding thoughts as alien and unwanted, and responding to them in an appropriate, nonjudgmental way. In a 2012 article, Davis & Hayes referred to this process as “metacognitive awareness,” and linked it to improvements in emotion regulation and reductions in perseveration cognition. These changes, Davis & Hayes concluded, can help you build better emotion regulation skills.

I’ve often heard it said that there are three main goals of psychotherapy: to develop insights into yourself, to accept what you learn, and to regulate the emotions that you feel in response. If that’s true, then the skill-building inherent in regular mindfulness meditation practice can help your therapy succeed in all three ways.

To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.

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Work stress can play havoc with men’s heart health especially when the stressful working conditions are not matched with suitable compensation, says a new study published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. The study noted that the impact of work stress on women is inconclusive. The study was done on 6,500 white-collar workers in Canada, with an average age of 45. (Also read: World Heart Day 2023: Early warning signs of heart attack women may experience weeks before)

Work stress can also lead to plaque build-up and increase in blood pressure which in turn can affect heart. Mindfulness, exercise, meditation, stress relieving activities can help keep heart issues due to stress at bay.(Freepik)

The authors noted that “the impact of job strain and effort-reward imbalance combined was similar to the magnitude of the impact of obesity on the risk of coronary heart disease.”

Work stress can also lead to plaque build-up and increase in blood pressure which in turn can affect heart. Mindfulness, exercise, meditation, stress relieving activities can help keep heart issues due to stress at bay.

Why men are more vulnerable to work stress

“Men might be more vulnerable to some kinds of work-related stress, which may in some situations increase the risk of heart issues. It’s important to remember that everyone reacts to stress differently, and that other elements like genetics, lifestyle, and general health have a big impact on heart health,” says Dr. Subhendu Mohanty, Head Cardiologists from Sharda Hospital.

“Men and women commonly operate in environments and professions that are distinct from one another. In some select industries with high levels of stress, such as those in finance, police enforcement, etc, men may be more at risk for chronic stress in these industries due to the demands of the job or the culture of the company,” adds Dr Mohanty.

“Chronic work-related stress can significantly elevate the risk of heart disease, with men being particularly vulnerable. This phenomenon is deeply concerning from a medical standpoint. Prolonged exposure to stress triggers a cascade of physiological responses that lead to hypertension, inflammation, and an increased propensity for cardiovascular issues. It’s crucial for individuals, especially men, to recognize the importance of managing stress through lifestyle changes, exercise, and seeking support, “ says Dr. Puneet Varma, Consultant – Cardiology – Adult, Narayana Health City Bangalore.

“The link between work-related stress and its adverse impact on health has become increasingly evident, and a recent study highlighting the potential doubling of heart disease risk in men underscores the urgency of addressing this issue. This research sheds light on a concerning correlation that warrants serious attention from both individuals and organizations,” says Dr Amar Singhal, Senior Consultant, Interventional Cardiologist, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute.

“Stress, especially chronic stress, can lead to a range of detrimental physiological responses in the body, including elevated blood pressure, inflammation, and unhealthy lifestyle choices like poor diet and lack of exercise. In the context of men’s heart health, these factors can collectively contribute to a higher risk of heart disease,” adds Dr Singhal.

How men can deal with work stress

“Stress at work must be managed. You may be aware of the mental and physical symptoms of stress, which can include tiredness, irritability, headaches, tension in the muscles, and trouble concentrating. Early detection of these symptoms can facilitate intervention. Make sure you get adequate sleep, consume a healthy diet, and exercise frequently. Mental well-being is significantly influenced by physical health. Analyse your stress levels and the success of your coping mechanisms on a regular basis. Adapt your strategy as necessary,” says Dr Mohanty.

“Employers play a pivotal role in mitigating this risk by promoting a healthier work environment. Encouraging breaks, implementing stress-reduction programs, and fostering a culture of work-life balance can significantly benefit employees. Furthermore, individuals must prioritize self-care and recognize the importance of seeking help when feeling overwhelmed,” says Dr Singhal.

Heart healthy measures for men

“Men need to take care of their hearts since they are more likely than women to get heart disease. Still, you should exercise according to a regular schedule. Exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, control blood pressure, and improve cardiovascular health. Consume plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins as part of a heart-healthy diet. The risk of heart disease is decreased by reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. Determine your Body Mass Index (BMI) and strive to maintain it within the advised range. Heart disease risk can be increased by having high cholesterol levels. Get regular cholesterol checks, and, in conjunction with your doctor, maintain your cholesterol levels with diet, exercise, and, if necessary, medication. Attempt to get 7-9 hours of restful sleep each night,” says Dr Mohanty.

“In conclusion, the study’s findings are a stark reminder that work stress is not merely a mental health concern but a substantial threat to physical well-being, particularly in men. Addressing this issue comprehensively requires a joint effort from individuals, employers, and healthcare providers to reduce the burden of heart disease and improve overall health,” says Dr Singhal.

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From gratitude journaling to yoga sun salutations before you’ve had your first coffee, wellbeing is booming.

In fact, consumers are now spending $1.5 trillion globally on wellness trends and it’s expected that by 2030 the wellness movement will be more tech based, personalised and seamlessly integrated into the working day.

And it makes sense when you look at the figures surrounding wellbeing in the workplace. UK employers are losing £45 million per year due to 17 million sick days taken as a result of mental health issues, including stress and anxiety.

Conversely, FTSE 100 companies that prioritise employee engagement and wellbeing outperform those that don’t by 10 per cent.

While being gifted a watch that prompts you to take five minutes to practise mindful meditation, or a free lunchtime yoga class are, in theory, great solutions to counteract wellbeing shortfalls, the reality is that workers don’t need bells and whistles to improve wellbeing at work.

Instead, some simple tweaks to your usual routine can make a vast difference to your day-to-day and may also help your career in the long run.

1. Open up the lines of communication 

In some of the best workplaces in the world, empathy and support from leaders rank as some of the most important management traits. So if you feel like you need more support from your own boss schedule a meeting with them where you ask for feedback on your performance and your position within the company.

You should also use this time to set achievable goals you can work towards to realign your focus and set your mind at ease about what is expected of you, and how you’re going to get there.

2. Set boundaries 

Do you often end up eating your lunch at your desk or staying late in work because others are and it’s part of company culture?

Not prioritising your own time and creating a work-life balance can have a detrimental impact on your wellbeing. In fact, 54 per cent of Brits would take a pay cut in exchange for more work-life balance.

One of the most effective ways to put some distance between your work and life is to set boundaries and stick to them. From not responding to non-urgent emails to taking your lunch break everyday, setting boundaries can contribute to a healthier attitude to work.

Not prioritising your own time and creating work-life balance can have a detrimental impact on your wellbeing

3. Foster a sense of belonging 

From an employer’s perspective, fostering a sense of belonging is not only beneficial when it comes to employee engagement, it can result in better employee performance.

For workers, a feeling of belonging is important when it comes to feeling included and valued, so use office days to collaborate with your team and make an effort to get involved in social clubs or charitable events being organised by your company.

4. Ask for flexibility 

Flexibility around workplace location continues to be a major concern for UK employees. Recent data found that 60 per cent of UK workers would rather add an extra three years on to their career in order to work remotely or in a hybrid environment, over working in the office full-time for the rest of their tenure.

And if your employer is insisting that you return to the office in a full time capacity, it’s worth having a conversation with them to see if you can negotiate a different arrangement that facilitates remote work.

If your employer is insisting that you return to the office in a full time capacity, it’s worth having a conversation with them to see if you can negotiate a different arrangement that facilitates remote work

5. Reassess your career 

Sometimes, despite your best intentions, wellbeing at work remains out of your grasp, perhaps due to a toxic work culture, or a manager that simply refuses to meet you halfway when it comes to remote or hybrid work.

And if that is the case, a new job in a company that actively champions wellbeing and has put the necessary provisions in place to help employees achieve work-life balance could be the best solution.

In fact, 86 per cent of employees are more likely to leave a job that doesn’t support wellbeing.

If you do find yourself starting out on your job hunt, the Mail Job Board is the perfect place to start your search as it features thousands of roles in companies that are actively hiring.

Discover thousands of opportunities on the Mail Job Board today

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When you confess you’re in a mild funk, every so often a confidante will say something like, “It sounds silly, but this self-help book really worked for me.” Your friend might even give you her copy.

You might feel dismissed. After all, aren’t your problems unique? Aren’t they much worse than everyone else’s?

You know that’s not true, but when you feel that way, you need a reminder. Knowing millions have experienced some variation of your issues is good medicine. A self-help book with a wise voice can provide exercises, excellent advice, and companionship whenever you pick it up.

In short, these books, websites, or podcasts actually can help. Start by exploring—until one clicks for you.

Books can give you the gist of different kinds of therapy. For example, in a small 2019 trial, volunteers with mild to moderate symptoms of depression found relief after eight weeks of reading one of two books, though none received any formal treatment.

The two books were Positive Psychology for Overcoming Depression, by British psychologist Miriam Akhtar, and Manage Your Mood by David Veale and Rob Willson. It’s a book with cognitive behavioral exercises for depression that was recommended by Reading Well, a national British program. Which was better? The study didn’t say. But with books, it’s easy to take a look and decide which suits you—or try both.

That experiment might also help you move forward with a therapist or choose one. The positive psychology book by Akhtar has a set of research-backed practices that can help many find daily happiness. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—also backed by research—helps someone with depression—notice and limit the thoughts (for example, “I’ll never feel better” or “I’m no good”) that contribute to the illness. Ask a therapist which approach they know best.

Can the benefits of reading last? According to a separate overview of research, analyzing the effect after periods from three months to three years, targeted reading did cut depression symptoms in adults over time. In that overview, it wasn’t effective with young people, however.

Depression isn’t the only subject suitable for self-help or guided reading. Reading and listening to tapes as part of therapy has helped people with schizophrenia, lightened psychological symptoms in people with cancer, and cut anxiety in patients before surgery. One particular form of this approach has been developed since 2020 in the north of England, where it is offered for a variety of mental health conditions, including dementia. In some research, depressed patients given self-help books do better than those who receive antidepressants

Finding Your Books

Psychologist John Norcross at the University of Scranton, coauthor of a guide to self-help resources used by psychologists, argues that patients who aren’t in the worst shape should try books—or tapes—before they turn to medications that can cause side effects. When Norcross asked more than 2,500 psychologists to rate the self-help titles their clients had tried, Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, a manual of CBT techniques by Stanford psychiatrist David Burns, came out on top. Two memoirs that describe mood disorders were also popular: William Styron’s Darkness Visible, a description by a novelist of his suicidal depression, and An Unquiet Mind, by Kay Redfield Jamison, a psychologist who suffers from bipolar disease.

The British National Health Service has endorsed book therapy, also known as “bibliotherapy,” in Reading Well: Books on Prescription, citing books backed up by scientific evidence. It recommends specific self-help books for mindfulness, anger, grief, shyness, sleep problems, asthma, understanding dementia, panic, binge eating, postnatal depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more. See the complete list of titles. You can also find books for teens and children.

The School of Life, a British organization, has assembled a library of “exceptional books that together illuminate, soothe, console and explain all that may be painful and sorrowful.”

It might help to pick a book that is popular. Someone else you know may have read it, which gives you an opportunity to get personal. The GoodReads site provides reader rankings for self-help books. Among the most recently published are The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery, by Brianna Wiest, and Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, by Cal Newport, a computer science professor at Georgetown University.

What about the book your friend suggests? It may be wonderful, but use your common sense: Some self-help books contain nonsense. Venting anger won’t make you less angry, as you might hear. Pouring out your despair in a journal may not help, either. Visualizing that you’ll find a parking spot or do well on a test doesn’t make it happen. You knew that, but if, for a moment, you believed the persuasive author who made you think otherwise, when you come down from your cloud, you might feel worse.

Self-Help Essential Reads

Feeling cynical that no book can help you is a symptom of despair. On the other hand, reading a self-help book can be a sign that you’re in motion. Put any bad book aside and try another, preferably one recommended by psychologists. When you land on the voice that speaks to you—and make a real effort to do the exercises—you could be well on your way.

To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory

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Fort Worth resident Christopher Blake never considered sharing the trauma from his military service when police profiled him two decades ago. 

Then, three years ago, he started therapy.

Blake, a 39-year-old Black man, had the “tough-it-out” mindset. For many communities of color, the sense is that such a mindset, not unusual in mental health discussions, has contributed to higher rates of suicides. The psyche is so deeply ingrained in some people of color that even among those who have embraced conversations about mental health, barriers to actually seeking care still exist. 

“It’s a pride thing — why you don’t want to admit that you may have some kind of mental health issues,” he said.  

Blake turned to therapy after developing suicidal thoughts, he said. He became aggressive and confrontational, and he would get triggered if someone raised their voice at him, or if he saw a weapon that wasn’t in his possession.

He calls himself a “short-ticking time bomb” — he always watches his surroundings, and he makes up negative scenarios in his mind even though nothing is wrong. 

“As I’ve gotten older, it has gotten worse,” he said.  

Lower reporting rate, higher suicide percentage

In 2020, people of color were generally less likely to report experiencing any mental illness or substance use disorders compared to their white peers. 

Just over 28% of Black adults and 27% of Hispanic adults reported having a mental illness or substance use disorder in 2020, compared to 36% of white adults, according to Kaiser Family Foundation, a health policy research nonprofit. 

However, the nonprofit found that a lack of culturally sensitive screening tools to detect mental illness along with structural barriers — including racism and socioeconomic disparities — may contribute to the underdiagnosis of mental illness among people of color. 

The death rate by suicide also rose faster among people of color between 2010 and 2020 compared to their white counterparts.

‘I feel like I should be OK to get through everything’

Chris and Martha Thomas understand the pain of losing someone to suicide. 

Their daughter, Ella, died by suicide in 2018. The Thomas family had heard about some microaggression toward their daughter, who was biracial, but they said they genuinely didn’t know the depth of their daughter’s pain. 

Chris and Martha Thomas, co-founders of The Defensive Health, pose for a portrait July 12, 2023, at TCU’s Debate Chambers inside Scharbauer Hall. The organization focuses on increasing mental health awareness for young people of color. (Dang Le | Fort Worth Report)

Following Ella’s death, the Thomases co-founded The Defensive Line along with their son, NFL player and Coppell High School graduate Solomon Thomas. The organization serves everybody but focuses on the needs of young people of color. This summer, the family spoke at TCU about raising awareness of mental health issues for minorities.

“A lot of times, people feel like, ‘Because our ancestors have been through so much, I feel like I am embarrassed about the fact that I’ve gotta talk about my mental health. I have people go through Jim Crow or slavery or discrimination, I feel like I should be OK to get through everything,’” Chris Thomas said. 

Challenges for minorities in addressing mental health

While research has shown that minority groups aren’t more likely to have mental health challenges than the population at large, they are less likely to seek or receive services from a mental health organization, said Brian Villegas, senior director of Adult Behavioral Health services at My Health My Resources of Tarrant County.

Mental health resources

MHMR of Tarrant County offers resources for people struggling with mental health

ICARE Call Center: Toll-free call/text at (800) 866-2465

If you are in a crisis, the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team provides a combination of face-to-face, 24-hour crisis services to children, adolescents and adults in Tarrant County, including:

• Emergency assessment for treatment at a clinic or a community location
• Urgent care
• Crisis follow-up
• Relapse prevention

Help Me Grow North Texas provides an information line that connects a family or provider to child development services and other community-based resources within your area. Children through age 5 are eligible. Contact 844-NTX-KIDS.

Help Me Thrive North Texas provides resources at no cost for families with children and teens ages 6 to 18. Contact 844-NTX-TEEN.

Many reasons are cited for this, from limited availability of services in local communities, mistrust of the health care system and language barriers that affect minority communities in getting help, Villegas said. 

“I’ve noticed in my encounters with patients that they feel discriminated (against) at times and that they don’t have the same right to access the resources that we all have available to us,” he said. 

The stigma around mental health discussions

As an Indian immigrant, TCU student Rini Cherian has witnessed many people in her community having a crisis, but that they wouldn’t go to counseling. They’d just brush the matter off because they don’t know of anyone to talk to, she said.

Cherian didn’t have access to mental health resources until college, despite a history of abuse and adverse childhood events she experienced as an immigrant, she said. 

Cherian is studying to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. She left out the psychiatric part when she told her parents about her choice, she said. 

“We do have a lot of cultural barriers because a lot of our parents don’t believe in getting help,” she said. “It’s like, ‘Oh, that’s not real.’”

Vorice Perryman, director of Youth Intensive Services at MHMR of Tarrant County, said his job involves working with young people and educating their parents. Numerous times, his young patients told him that the people in their lives didn’t understand how they felt. 

The key component is “being able to provide,” Perryman said. His team works to educate and involve all of those in the family dynamic to help them better address mental health challenges common among their young people. 

Minority mental health care disparities

The Kaiser Family Foundation found that Black, Hispanic and Asian adults were less likely to receive mental health services than their white counterparts. 

“It’s important to talk about the topic because there’s so many barriers to mental health care. So yes, talking about suicide, talking about anything mental health related —  it’s so important,” Cherian said. 

Some people would believe that their mental health problems would eventually go away and that they would feel better once their lives stabilized, Villegas said. 

The opposite is true. 

“They keep getting into other challenges that keep compiling and compiling: anxiety, depression, post or post-traumatic stress disorder, so it augments,” he said. 

MHMR of Tarrant County welcomes those who believe they’re isolated or discriminated against and mistrust the system, Villegas said. The center has focused on building a diverse staff and professionals at the clinics while listening to the focus groups in the community. 

Chris Thomas of The Defensive Line has his own story as a Black man. He said he never talked about mental health, but he has realized that it doesn’t affect any specific demographic. 

“It impacts everybody — socio-economics, demographics, race, gender, so we’ve got to find a way to talk about it so people know that it’s an issue and that it can be addressed,” he said.

Dang Le is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at dang.le@fortworthreport.org or via Twitter. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.

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On July 1, the Hope Center took over the mobile-crisis contract for Pitkin County. When an in-person response is evaluated as necessary to a 988 mental health hotline call, the Hope Center responds.
Aspen Hope Center/Courtesy image

Editor’s Note: This story is part one of a three-part series on mental health in the Roaring Fork Valley.

In the summer of 2019, when Andrew Parrott was in crisis with bipolar disorder, a Pitkin County sheriff’s deputy reached out.

“I was going through a pretty dark period,” Parrott said. “And Grant Jahnke … came over and he said to me, ‘You know, if you ever just need someone to sit on the sofa and have a beer and listen, this is Aspen. That’s what we’re here for.’”

Parrott was not sure he could make sound decisions for himself, and he placed his trust in Jahnke to step in at the level of a close friend or family member — a rarity he called unique to Aspen.

His confidence in Jahnke and the Pitkin Area Co-Responder Team (PACT) to make decisions in his best interest marks a departure from the traditional disciplinary relationship between the police and the people they serve.

To someone visiting Aspen, the ski town town nestled in the Rocky Mountains may appear something like paradise. But if so, there is certainly trouble in paradise.

According to Mental Health America, nearly a quarter of Colorado residents have a diagnosed mental illness, defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as “having a diagnosable mental, behavioral or emotional disorder other than a developmental or substance use disorder.”

In the past few years, the Roaring Fork Valley has changed through a mission to fill gaps in resources for people struggling with mental health. What was once a relatively barren space with minimal resources is now a growing ecosystem of organizations and agencies. But the question remains — are the resources sufficient for the mental health struggles of the community?

Four years later, in March, Parrott again found himself in the throes of a mental health crisis. Remembering what Jahnke had said to him four years prior, he called him and asked for support. Jahnke came over with PACT clinician Kat Buesch to sit down with Parrott and create a support plan.

“They sat down and they talked with me, and they have both continued that relationship for several months — through a hospitalization, through a behavioral health program I’ve done, through many, many ups and downs, through some seriously dark days,” Parrott said. “The PACT program has unequivocally not only saved my life but helped give me the will to continue living.”

According to Pitkin County Public Health Planning and Programs Manager Jenny Lyons and Mental Health Program Administrator Katie Hundertmark, PACT works with clients to help connect them with mental health resources.

Generally, when PACT is called to respond to a situation, a clinician from Mind Springs Health responds with a law enforcement officer. After the call, the clinician works with a peer specialist and case manager from PACT to develop a follow-up plan depending on the client’s needs and desired level of support.

“I think PACT is particularly good in our community as a bridge for people who may not want to immediately engage in other mental health treatment,” Lyons said. “We can show up and kind of meet them where they are.”

She said that not all of PACT’s clients may be enthusiastic about reaching out to outside resources. PACT members accept that reality and continue to offer support.

“We keep showing up for folks and trying to meet them where they are and offering them what we can so that hopefully, we are there when they might change and decide that they are ready for additional services,” she said.

Every few days, Parrott receives a call from Jahnke, Buesch or someone else from the PACT program to check in on him.

“It keeps me accountable,” he said. “Because on the days that maybe I don’t feel like I have the strength to do it for myself, I remember how much the people who love me have invested in helping me and in keeping me here. And I do everything I can to show up for them.”

In contrast to for-profit mental health care institutions, PACT, as well as the Aspen Hope Center, has no financial incentives for providing mental health support, cultivating a system of care centered on the client’s well being rather than profit.

“On a fundamental level, the most important thing was that it was clear that they were there for me,” said a person who was raised in the Roaring Fork Valley and has worked with the Hope Center for more than six years but wished to remain anonymous out of concern about being stigmatized. “There’s not any ulterior motive. … They really want to be there for you long term.”

The Hope Center focuses on connecting people experiencing mental health crises with the appropriate resources, providing crisis intervention, suicide prevention, mobile crisis response, therapy, school-based programs, referrals, and check-ins. The Hope Center also operates a 24/7 crisis hotline. 

According to the person from the Roaring Fork Valley who has been receiving support from the Hope Center for years, the ability to speak with someone over the phone at any hour can be crucial for someone experiencing serious mental health issues.

“It was important for me at that time when I was actively suicidal to have around-the-clock support,” they said.

Parrott said connecting with a continuous support system he can talk to about his mental health challenges and who accepts him as he is can be invaluable, serving as a reminder of his personal worth.

“It gives me hope that I’m salvageable and worth something and bigger than this disease that can at times just totally take control of me, even on meds, even with all the best help, even with people who love me, even with a great job and income,” Parrott said. “Disease doesn’t care about stuff like that. It’ll take it all away in an instant, and you need an extraordinary amount of grace and love from the people in your life to keep waking up every morning.”

Stigma surrounding mental health

Once accessed, the support one receives can be invaluable. However, the stigma that surrounds reaching out for help can often pose a barrier to accessing that care.

For Parrott, sharing his story comes with an inherent risk to his career, he said, which revolves around building relationships and connecting with people in the tech industry. Even for someone like him who has had a successful and accomplished life by conventional standards — leading executive talent acquisition at major companies, attending West Point  — speaking publicly about his struggles with mental health puts him in a vulnerable position.

“Every time I talk about it publicly, I risk my career, I risk the livelihood that allows me to be fortunate enough to live in a place like Aspen, and that is incredibly scary to me,” he said. “It’s difficult, it’s embarrassing, it’s stigmatized, it’s infinitely complex.”

According to the 2023 Pitkin County Community Mental Health Assessment, the most common deterrents to discussing mental health for English and Spanish respondents were concerns they would be judged by others, and not feeling comfortable discussing the subject.

Parrott said the close-knit nature of the Roaring Fork community creates a space in which people genuinely care about each other, easing the stigma around discussing mental health, as well as the process of repairing relationships.

“When people care, they care, and they will bend over backwards for you,” he said. “I’ve apologized to everyone from dentists to accountants, and they’ll accept your apology, they’ll root for you, they’ll want to see you get better. They’ll be there to help.”

Even in a supportive environment, it can be incredibly challenging to confront the personal damage caused to relationships by mental illness, he said.

“It takes away the relationships and the lifeline,” Parrott said of the “otherworldly” force of his bipolar disorder. “It takes the humanity out of me and breaks all of those bonds that I have worked so hard to build, just because they’re people I love, much less the fact that they’re people who helped keep me alive.”

After emerging from the depths of a mental health crisis, Parrott has to confront bruised and perhaps broken relationships.

“I get back and I begin the work of asking myself, what did my bipolar do to the people I love the most despite my best efforts? What can I do to make those relationships right? Will those relationships ever be right? Is there any hope?” he said. “When mental illness rears its head and destroys connections I’ve worked a lifetime to build with people who mean the world to me, it is incredibly difficult to come to grips with that. It’s difficult to dust yourself off and apologize and restart for the nth time.”

Although there has been a trend toward more discussion in the public sphere surrounding mental health, Parrott said he is skeptical that the reality of the societal attitude toward mental health matches the rhetoric.

“It’s one thing to talk about it; it’s another thing to hire a person who has learned to manage or who is struggling to manage mental health issues,” he said.

To move beyond conversation into the realm of tangible action, Parrott suggested that empathy is the most powerful tool.

“Until people realize how connected we are, how one or at most two degrees of separation they are from someone who struggles in a major way with these things, there will not be the requisite empathy for someone to feel compelled to take that chance, to offer that aid,” he said.

A supportive community — including psychotherapy, hospitalizations, check-ins from PACT and the Hope Center, and supportive friends —  has undoubtedly been instrumental in Parrott’s recovery journey. He said they have increased his resiliency and helped remind him of who he is beyond his mental illness. Even with that support, he emphasized that the strength to overcome mental illness must come from within the individual.

“Every person has to find within themself that someone or something to keep living for,” Parrott said. “Without that, the best help in the world will not be enough. … External forces can help with that journey, can make that journey easier, but ultimately that has to come from within. … In 39 years of experience, it’s got to come from the soul center.”

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Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Sunday started the 21st day of his Jan Samvad Programme from village Jainpur Sadhan in Karnal district.

While establishing a direct dialogue with the people on this occasion, Khattar said that the BJP-led state government in its tenure of the past eight-and-a-half years so far has done double the work as compared to the ten year’s tenure of previous Congress government and that too in half budget. “We have worked without any discrimination and in a transparent manner,” he added.

Manohar Lal Khattar said that the aim of Jan Samvad Programmes is to meet people face-to-face and listen to their grievances. While referring to various initiatives started by the present state government, he said that data of every family member of the state is available with the government through Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP).

“The biggest benefit of PPP will be to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach the common man.” He said that the grant for development works in the village will also be released on the basis of population of the village. In future, a grant of Rs 2,000 per person will be given in the village for development works, said the Chief Minister while exhorting the sarpanches to get family IDs made for every family.

Earlier, the CM distributed tricycles to divyangjans on behalf of the Red Cross Society. He also went around the exhibition of products made by Women Self-Help Groups.

He said that self-help groups are an important step towards making women self-reliant. “Loans ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 20 lakh are made available to self-help groups at an interest rate of only one percent.”

The CM added that under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, earlier cards of 15.5 lakh families were made in the state, who could get treatment up to Rs 5 lakh in government and private hospitals. Now from August 15, while further widening the scope of this scheme, it has been decided to increase the annual income limit of families from 1.80 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. The portal for preparing cards will be opened from August 15 and it will remain open upto September 15, 2023, he further added.

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While taking a jibe at the opposition leaders without naming anyone, the CM said that some leaders say that this is a government of portals. “We also proudly say that yes this is the government of portals as with the help of IT, the amount of old age pension, compensation to farmers, crop sale money, children’s scholarship and amount of Mukhyamantri Vivah Shagun Yojana is depositing directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.”

During the programme, when a woman named Lakshmi apprised the Chief Minister about her old age pension not being made, Manohar Lal Khattar said that those people who have attained the age of 60 years and their pension has not been made yet, they should go to the counter made for this purpose behind the stage and get their pension made. After some time, when the Chief Minister gave pension certificates to the beneficiaries from the same stage, it was worth seeing the glow on their faces.

During the programme, sarpanch Kavita of village Dhanaura talked about the construction of yyamshala in the village and said that she is the daughter of his village Nindana. Then the Chief Minister got up from the stage and gave Rs 500 to Kavita as shagun.

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A toxic work culture can discourage people from giving their best, affecting performance. A healthy workforce is always more productive, engaged and resilient. This is why giving due importance to the mental health of employees while reaching out for goals and targets, is important for a positive work culture. You should notice certain signs that suggest your workplace values mental health.

Health Shots reached out to Dr Rahul Rai Kakkar, Consultant – Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Gurugram, to know more about healthy workplace.

Positive work culture is important for mental health. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Mental health issues at workplace

Work-related stress can bother anyone. With high workload, pressure to meet targets and long working hours, it can lead to stress, affecting mental well-being. Here are some more health issues that an unhealthy work environment can lead to:

1. Burnout

Prolonged exposure to intense stress and exhaustion can result in burnout, characterised by emotional exhaustion and reduced performance, says the expert.

2. Anxiety and depression

Workplace factors, such as a toxic work culture or lack of support, might contribute to the development of anxiety and depression.

3. Workplace bullying

Some people do become victims of office harassment or bullying at work. This can have severe effects on the person’s mental health.

4. Isolation and loneliness

Feeling disconnected from colleagues or excluded from the work community can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

5. Uncertain job security

Fear of job loss or unstable employment conditions can also cause anxiety and stress in some people.

Bullying at work may affect your mental health. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

6. Lack of work-life balance

Balancing personal and professional life becomes challenging, affecting overall mental well-being.

Why mental health at workplace is importance

It is crucial for management to prioritise employees’ mental health. Dr Kakkar says that focusing on mental health fosters a positive work culture, reduces absenteeism and enhances job satisfaction. By addressing mental health concerns, management demonstrates care for their employees’ well-being. This in turn boosts morale and loyalty, leading to improved retention rates and less job hopping. Also, investing in mental health initiatives can help to prevent burnout, stress-related issues, and potential conflicts, creating a more harmonious and thriving workplace.

Signs that your workplace values mental health

1. Encourages open communication

Management fosters an environment where employees can discuss mental health without fear of stigma or repercussions.

2. Offers mental health resources

The office provides access to counselling, support groups or workshops to assist employees in managing their mental well-being.

3. Flexible work arrangements

The office allows flexible schedules and remote work options, accommodating individual needs and promoting work-life balance, says the expert.

4. Promotes work breaks

Regular breaks are encouraged to prevent burnout and increase productivity, but that doesn’t mean you stay out drinking tea or smoking cigarettes all the time.

5. Recognises achievements and efforts

Employees’ accomplishments are acknowledged by the management. This helps to boost their self esteem and motivation.

6. Anti-discrimination policies

The office has clear policies against discrimination based on mental health conditions, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment.

7. Mental health training

Management provides training to raise awareness and equip staff with skills to support colleagues facing mental health challenges.

8. Employee assistance programs

The office offers such programs to provide confidential support and resources for employees in times of distress, says Dr Kakkar.

Now that you know certain signs, try your best to find a workplace that upholds your emotional wellness while letting you thrive professionally.

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