Ten Takeaways From 10-10: World Mental Health Day 2023

This week Lori and I were honored to play a small role attending the second annual summit at Hudson Yards in NYC on mental health as part of World Mental Health Day.? The summit , hosted and organized by Project Healthy Minds , brought together an incredible set of speakers, attendees, corporations, leaders and families all in the name of helping the 65M Americans who suffer, specifically targeting the 60% of them who don’t get the support they desperately need.??

The emotional outpouring, vulnerability, personal stories, openness, ideas and recommendations from the likes of Carson Daly, Zak Williams, Poppy Harlow, Sally Yates, David Axelrod, Kaylen Irsay Jackson, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Doug Emhoff, Logic and nearly 1,500 other participants and attendees, across 19 rich sessions, punctuated with an amazing evening gala, was powerful and moving to say the least.???

For me yesterday was a day that I can only compare to one other in my 30 year professional journey - attending Davos & The World Economic Forum in 2012 as a Tech Pioneer.? My Davos discussions in 2012 changed the way I thought about many things, opened so many doors and really opened my mind – and this years World Mental Health Day & Summit – had the same, and possibly a bigger impact on me and to that end, I wanted to attempt to summarize my Top 10 Takeaways, from 10-10:

1. There has been a notable tone shift on mental health with conversations moving from awareness to action and from discussions to data.? It's not enough to be aware and to acknowledge the stigma, now is the time for solutions and action as the data is undeniable.?
2. Technology and social platforms are BOTH a smoking gun and a solution - we as technologists need to drive change, regulation and safety standards as a defense, but also play offense with compelling educational content and efficient access to care with platforms like Project Healthy Minds
3. Ignore the tabloid coverage of Prince Harry and Megan Markle and pay close attention to their Archewell Foundation efforts.? Their work with 2,200 families (and growing) impacted by suicide tied to social media is inspirational, moving and focused where it matters - on the families impacted and moving the needle with big tech.
4. Our Surgeon General Vivek Murthy - compassionate, articulate, visionary yet pragmatic and an incredible advocate for mental health related services and solutions.? I also hope he runs for President someday, soon!?
5. The Related Companies and Stephen Ross:? they have stepped up big time, with time, thought leadership, action, capital and so much more, and corporations should take note of their actions in the area of mental health and wellness support.
6. Everyone can play a role, each and every day, with friends, family, co-workers via a sincere ‘Really, how ARE you’ dialogue, pause, ask again … while using the ASK Framework:? Acknowledge, Support, Keep in Touch.
7. It’s easy to target and hate on TikTok, Instagram, doom scrolling and the algorithms targeting our youth, but I was equally inspired by the efforts, vision, and thoughtfulness of Global Head of Mental Health at YouTube - Dr. Jessica DiVento Dzuban ?
8. Crisis care is 8-10x more expensive than preventative care - the daily basics WILL make the biggest difference: meditation, spirituality, diet, sleep, nature, & tech free time.
9. Older men (self included!) - we’re generally pretty bad examples.? Holding it in, being tough, powering through – often learned from our fathers examples – it's ok to admit one's true feelings, they’ll cycle, take time for yourself, speak to a therapist, train the brain, see #8 above.? We can’t help others if we don’t truly reflect and help ourselves.??
10. Phil Shermer is a force.? Period.? Kudos to you, and the team you’ve assembled at PHM for driving real change, with real solutions via a hugely impactful and diverse set of leaders from sports, entertainment, music, corporations, government officials, and impacted families.? A truly impressive entrepreneur, an even more amazing human being.? Watch this space!?

So, if you were there, do any one or two of these resonate and care to expand?? For those that were not there but participated in WMHD elsewhere, would you add others???

Thank you again to Phil and the team at Project Healthy Minds for an incredible, Davos-like mind opening and impactful experience this week.? It’s a day I will never forget.??

And because I could not weave them into my Top 10, also sharing my 3 favorite quotes from the sessions and day:??

“How can we turn pain into purpose”

“Service can be a path to happiness”

“The most important and true measure of a society is how it takes care of its youth”