OJO's Commitment to Mental Health

Mental health is an important topic and I know for business leaders, it can often be a difficult conversation to lead, so I'm sharing the full note I sent to my employees today.

Team OJO,??

This Sunday, October 10, is?World Mental Health Day.?Mental illnesses are among some of the most common illnesses people face in the United States, and I believe it is more important than ever before to bring awareness and reduce any stigma around them.?Just how common are we talking??1 in 5 American adults will experience a mental health condition in any given year and almost half (46%) of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their lifetime.?As you’ve heard me say many times before, we need to put on our own oxygen masks before assisting others. The same way we take care of our physical health, we need to take care of our mental health.?Sometimes that looks like stepping away from the computer, and taking a walk outside, and sometimes that means finding a licensed therapist to help process life events. OJO is here to help provide you with support in a variety of ways.?Tomorrow is #OJOunplugged. Our hope is that you take this time to do just that - unplug and recharge your own batteries, however that may look for you.

We also have an Employee Assistance Program and health insurance that provides coverage for mental health services. Please reach out to your People Operations team if you ever need assistance navigating the resources available to you.??We are also thrilled to announce that beginning in 2022, we will be partnering with TalkSpace to provide additional mental health support for our team. TalkSpace is an online therapy platform that provides both text messaging and video sessions with licensed therapists.?This will be available to all OJO employees (including St. Lucia!) and their dependents, ages 13 and older. We’ll be sharing more information about this in the coming months, but felt it was important to share the news with you all! Big shout out to our people ops team who is proactively coming up with solutions to ensure we not only survive but thrive.?

Mental health is deeply personal to me as I have close friends and family who have really struggled over the last year and I care deeply about you all and your mental wellbeing. Frankly, I haven't been taking my own advice on oxygen masks and really look forward to using the TalkSpace service myself as soon as it becomes available as I have not spoken to a professional since elementary school when my parents divorced and I believe I would greatly benefit from it.?

Looking for more ways to ensure you take care of yourself each and every day? Follow this list as a guide to help you stay mentally healthy, or visit?https://afsp.org/suicide-prevention-resources?for more immediate help and support.?

• Go for midday walks to clear your mind
• Listen to Focus playlists or calming music
• Practice meditation (even if it’s only for 5 minutes)
• Schedule short breaks into every work day
• Make daily movement a priority
• Set boundaries between work and personal life
• Integrate regular time for self-care
• Practice mindful breathing; even 3 intentional breaths will help
• Make lists to help you stay focused and clear
• Let your supervisors know you when feel overwhelmed

Wishing you a great long weekend,

John