Supporting mental health for all

I just returned from holidays after sending my son off to his first year of university and am now serving my 14-day compulsory quarantine in a hotel room. I have plenty of time to reflect on how our lives have changed considerably this year. I thought about the many challenges our family, friends, and colleagues have faced this year including those working from their kitchen tables, those caring for elderly parents, those with kids who have to take classes by video conferencing, many of us who are separated from loved ones because of travel restrictions, and even those who faced some health issues. This year certainly has presented numerous challenges and many of us are under some form of added stress or have low levels of wellbeing.

During this leave, I was finally able to see my daughter after many months apart and I gifted her a favourite book of mine to help her as she navigates university. The book is Dale Carnegie’s How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. It encourages the reader to live in day-tight compartments and not to stew about the future; but live each day until bedtime. Such a simple, but important message for all of us to remember.

COVID-19 continues to impact everyone in various ways including our mental wellbeing. We have had to adjust our personal and professional lives in ways we would never have imagined. World Mental Health Day was observed over the weekend on Saturday 10 October with the aim to raise global awareness of mental health issues and mobilising efforts in support of mental health.  This extraordinary year has taught us that we need to continue to make an investment in our wellbeing – especially our mental health. We need to look after ourselves and support others – our colleagues, family, and friends.

Last year, HSBC partnered with United for Global Mental Health (UGMH) to start the conversation on mental health in the workplace and we developed a global mental health education programme for our employees to enable better conversations and support one another. To my HSBC colleagues around the world, I encourage you to take full advantage of the resources available to support your wellbeing and that of others, including our mental health awareness e-learning, the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and our Employee Resource Groups – you can find these and more at HSBC’s Wellbeing Hub.

While we are not doctors, we do need to continue to create a non-judgmental environment where it is ok to have conversations about mental health. We need to have open conversations about mental health and support our colleagues to be at their best each and every day.

Recently many people celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival in Asia and earlier this week, many of my Canadian friends and/or former colleagues just celebrated their thanksgiving. Due to seasonal differences, in the United States, they will celebrate thanksgiving in November. Nevertheless, all these celebrations mark the harvest and other blessings of the past year. It is a time for family and friends to gather, to give thanks, and express gratitude. Hopefully many of us can do so safely or just resort to video conferencing to check in with our loved ones and break bread over a virtual gathering. These connections with our loved ones and with our colleagues are so critical to our mental wellbeing. Let’s make sure we make time to make meaningful connections every day to thrive.

Under normal circumstances when Hong Kong is not abiding with tighter physical distancing COVID-19 restrictions, to help manage my mental and physical wellbeing, I take the time to run in the morning and also regularly do walking meetings close to the office with my HR HK-based team members. I hope you also make time to support your own wellbeing and continue to be compassionate and understanding of others including your colleagues.

You can find some useful resources from the World Health Organisation including an illustrated guide to help cope with stress and a story book for those with kids.

Please continue to stay safe and healthy.

David