People are what matter: Mental health awareness in the workplace

Being there for the people you care about; it can be easier said than done. This is true in all relationships, from family to friends to colleagues. While the workplace isn’t the first place you might think to have deeper conversations, strengthening these connections helps you look after your crew. Movember SpeakEasy sessions deliver everyday tools to have more open communication to improve social connection, helping teams and colleagues better support each other. This Mental Health Awareness Month, we reached out to organizations who attended a Movember SpeakEasy session to share what they took away from the experience and why mental health matters in their workplace. Here’s what they had to say.

Christian Trapp – MikMak

While MikMak and Movember exist within distinctly different spheres, both organizations are driven by a desire to challenge the status quo; MikMak disrupts traditional eCommerce models, while Movember confronts long-held societal norms around men's health. Mental health is a priority within MikMak because we firmly believe that a healthy and supportive work environment is crucial for the success and well-being of our people. We felt that Movember SpeakEasy offered MikMak a way to invest in our most valuable asset — our people — while simultaneously contributing to a more understanding and supportive organization.

We are filled with gratitude for the group of MikMakers who embraced SpeakEasy with such openness and courage. They truly are pioneers, bravely leading the way towards deeper, more authentic conversations. It's this willingness to "go there" that unlocks the power of connection and understanding. The foundation of any great organization is trust, and these remarkable individuals elevated that concept to a whole new level.

Sam Wang – Accenture

There are multiple alignments of value between Movember and my organization, Accenture. But ever since the pandemic, the biggest alignment in values has been taking care of our people. Both Movember and Accenture take a stance on taking care of the people in our workplace and community – from physical to mental health. I was interested in SpeakEasy to bring more value to those people. From the SpeakEasy sessions, I learned that being vulnerable and open is the first critical step to truly understanding one’s self. Encouraging open conversations in the workplace allows everyone to be their true self. It allows everyone to have a voice in the conversation and allows everyone to be heard.

Noah Dial – Lambda Chi Alpha

Lambda Chi Alpha always wants to be the forerunner for change in the Greek space. Movember is all about being bold and having the personal courage to speak up when you see someone struggling; personal courage is one of our core values that we hope to instill in all our members. Having a brotherhood that keeps members accountable regarding their overall wellness is a huge perk to joining a fraternity.

Walking away from my SpeakEasy session made me think there is a lot of potential for growth in any individual that can immerse themselves in the experience. Much like I tell students all the time about fraternity, you get what you put into the program. I can see a session like this being very successful in a group of tenured colleagues or even a chapter with a strong brotherhood. It’s important that a workplace values the health among their employees; engines don’t run well without an oil change. Not only is maintaining a positive workplace culture better for business and quality of life, but de-stigmatizing the difficult conversations about mental health will save lives.

Aaron Nightingale – Known

Movember's focus on mental health and challenging societal norms perfectly resonates with our values of continuous learning, teamwork, doing good, and seeking better ways to address important issues. Mental health is crucial to overall well-being and without that, we can’t really expect our teams to show up, be supportive of each other, build lasting relationships, or do truly exceptional work. It’s a priority because each staff member at Known is a priority.

We were eager to participate in Movember's SpeakEasy session because it aligns with our belief in the power of open dialogue and vulnerability. We saw it as an opportunity to contribute, though it can be challenging, to a meaningful conversation and learn from others' experiences. We took away a profound sense of connection and empathy. It reinforced the importance of creating safe spaces for honest conversations about mental health and left us thinking through the right ways to introduce these into both our personal and professional lives. In one word, I would describe the experience as transformative. It has the power to change one’s perspective and foster understanding in a profound way. Beyond establishing a deep empathy and trust for one another (a critical foundation for any workplace), encouraging open conversation demonstrates a workplace’s commitment to promoting mental wellness, breaking down stigmas, and fostering a supportive culture where everyone feels valued and heard.

SpeakEasy workshops are available to Movember workplace supporters virtually and in person year-round. Reach out to mbc.us@movember.com to learn more about SpeakEasy and how to get your team involved.