Something To Think About...

Drawing closer to May we mark the start of Mental Health Awareness Month. I cannot help being reminded of the words of existential psychologist Rollo May when he said, “Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy, and mutual valuing.” As we gauge the last several years, there are stark realities that are impacting a whole generation’s quality of life and overall mental health. We must seek greater communication and grasp the needs of a society that is weighted down by more stress, and greater anxiety, and is losing a sense of collective unity as everyone views the world through their own digital echo chamber. As this transformation begins to unfold, it is time for leadership from academia, politics, and business to reassess how to engage in leveraging essential questions that not only rethink how they relate to mental health but how to design more effective solutions.

While social media has a double-edged sword in the narrative of mental health, one of the bright spots has been its capacity to magnify exposure and provide a platform for millions to have a sense of radical candor by exploring these issues in very truthful ways. These platforms offer a diversity of thoughts, perspectives, and voices around what mental health and mental illness really look like and how they impact someone’s daily life. By having such a stage there is an awareness that has often been missing in years past. However, a fundamental question that lingers is how institutions can not only engage with the social media ecosystem but see it as a transformational tool. Much like Rollo May states, it is important to recognize what organizations need to value, both collectively and individually. Leaders must assess their own biases when it comes to mental health and well-being and see it as a wake-up call to face the reality in front of them. Social media offers a glimpse of finding ways to converse with a generation on not only how an institution values mental health, but their role in transformational change.

Another topic to think about is the impact of long-term Covid on one’s mental health. It is estimated that at least 65 million individuals globally have long COVID with cases increasing daily. Due to this phenomenon, more people are joining the disability community and having to navigate through this unfamiliar territory. One of the essential aspects of this journey is the role psychological health and well-being play in this time of change. While many organizations have begun to recognize the impact of long COVID, there are still many who are trying to adjust to this post-pandemic reality. The role of what was once called “soft skills”, or what I preferably call “power skills” such as empathy, active listening, adaptability, communication, and many other elements need to be part of the essential toolkit for any 21st Century leader.

While mental health and well-being need to have a continual and sustained strategy, next month offers an opportunity to highlight key ideas, thoughts, and perspectives. With an upcoming US Presidential election, two wars in both the Middle East and Eastern Europe to the impact of the downside of social media, these numerous external challenges are impacting mental health in a multitude of ways. Through A Broader Lens will shed some light on various trend lines and offer thoughts for positive change.