Arthur Doler@arthurdoler
Handout:
LET’S TALK ABOUT MENTAL
HEALTHBecause it’s about @%#*& time!
http://bit.ly/2yqRfYJ
http://bit.ly/2zrh2hE
Arthur Doler@arthurdoler
WHAT’S THIS TALK EVEN ABOUT?
The Reality
What IS a mental health challenge?
The most common mental health challenges
Who is Art?
How to talk about mental health at work
Some methods for good mental hygiene
REALITY CHECK
Changes in energy level and sleep patterns
Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
Difficulty with concentration or decision-making
Feeling sad, empty, hopeless, worthless, or guilty
Extreme or unusual mood swings
Feeling like your brain is playing tricks on you
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/mental-health-screening-tools
CDC Mental Illness Surveillance Fact Sheet (https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealthsurveillance/fact_sheet.html)
CDC Mental Illness Surveillance Fact Sheet (https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealthsurveillance/fact_sheet.html)
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SUBSTANCE USE
NUMBERS
CDC Mental Illness Surveillance Fact Sheet (https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealthsurveillance/fact_sheet.html)
Mental health challenges are associated with:
•Increased occurrence of chronic diseases
•Decreased use of medical care (especially preventative)
•As much as a 25-year decrease in lifespan for SPMI sufferers
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/chronic-illness-mental-health/index.shtml
OSMI 2016 Survey General Report (https://osmi.typeform.com/report/Ao6BTw/U76z)
NIMH / NIH - https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/disability/us-leading-categories-of-diseases-disorders.shtml
MENTAL DISORDER
MENTAL ILLNESS
PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER
NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDER
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE
MENTAL HEATH CHALLENGE
BUT WHAT ARE THEY?
WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OF A DIAGNOSIS?
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition
DIAGNOSES ARE NOT PRESCRIPTIVE
THEY ARE DESCRIPTIVE
WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY…
MOOD DISORDERS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY
DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO REGULATE
MOOD
Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry: Behavioral Sciences/Clinical Psychiatry (9th ed.)
ANXIETY DISORDERS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY
DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO REGULATE
ANXIETY
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition
OSMI 2016 Survey General Report (https://osmi.typeform.com/report/Ao6BTw/U76z)
REMEMBER – DIAGNOSES ARE DESCRIPTIVE, NOT PRESCRIPTIVE
JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW ONE PERSON’SEXPERIENCE DOESN’T MEAN YOU KNOW
ANOTHER’S EXPERIENCE
SO…
WHO IS ART?
WHO AM I?
It’s
clinical
versus
experiential
language
SO…
HOW DO WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL
HEALTH AT WORK?
EXPERIENTIALLY!
YOU ARE NOT A PROVIDER OF CARE.
DO NOT USE CLINICAL LANGUAGE.
A CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH
NEEDS SOME GUIDELINES
NOTE:THE SITUATIONS HERE ARE HYPOTHETICALTHE ADVICE IS REPRESENTATIVE
DO NOT ASSUME IT’S THE CORRECT ADVICE
TYPE IA
Jordan Asks Taylor for Future Support
ASKING SCRIPT
“I could really use some support. Can you please [helpful action here]?”
OR
“I don’t know if you knew this, but I deal with (or am having problems with) [a specific kind of experience]. You’ve been helpful to me in the past; would it be okay in the future if ask you to [actionable thing] when [event happens]”
“Hey, I’ve been having a tough time with my mood lately. If you see me starting to isolate myself, can you take me out for a cup of coffee?”
Ideally, Jordan:• Is clear and direct in both what they’re asking Taylor to do, and whenasking Taylor to do it
Ideally, Taylor:• Doesn’t problem-solve• Doesn’t promise anything they’re uncomfortable doing
Jordan Asks Taylor for Future Support
TYPE IB
Jordan is in Crisis and Asks Taylor for Support
WHAT DOES A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS LOOK
LIKE?
“Um, you might not know this but I deal with some mood issues… and… I need some help telling which emotions are real right now.”
Ideally, Jordan:• Will ask for whatever they need right now, as specifically as possible
• Will explain that they need to leave if they feel like they need to exit the situation
Ideally, Taylor:• Remains calm• Doesn’t take Jordan’s leaving as an insult
Jordan is in Crisis and Asks Taylor for Support
TYPE IIA
Jordan Offers Future Support to Taylor
OFFERING SCRIPT
“I noticed that [behavioral observation here].
Can we talk about it?”
THEN
“Do you think you could use [action here]? Can I help provide that?”
“Hey, Taylor. I noticed that when someone disagrees with you in a meeting you stop talking and shut down, even though you clearly care a lot about what you’re saying. Would you like me to help back you up when that happens?”
Ideally, Jordan:• Accepts a “No” answer gracefully (and doesn’t take it personally)
• Keeps their judgements and opinion out it
Ideally, Taylor:• Will only talk about their mental state if they want to
• Will provide clear guidance for what can do
Jordan Offers Future Support to Taylor
TYPE IIB
Taylor is in Crisis and Jordan Offers Support
“It seems like you’re going through a rough moment. If you want, I can cover for you if you need to step out.”
Ideally, Jordan:• Will keep their judgements and opinion out of it
• Will follow the safety guidelines, unless they’ve prearranged a support response Taylor
Ideally, Taylor:• Will be honest about what they need, even if it’s nothing
• Won’t assume they’re being a waste of Jordan’s time
Taylor is in Crisis and Jordan Offers Support
TYPE III
Taylor Explaining to Jordan What They Feel
EXPLANATION SCRIPT
“When [event happens], I [sometimes, often, always] feel like [insert feelings
here]. To cope with that, I [insert behavior here].”
“When I’m in a meeting and someone asks me a question, my brain freezes and all I can think about is what happens if I screw up and answer incorrectly. To cope with that, I spend time before the meeting obsessing over all the things people could ask me, so I’m not very responsive.”
Ideally, Jordan:• Will listen respectfully
• Won’t problem-solve
Ideally, Taylor:• Will avoid blaming or ranting
• Won’t apologize for their feelings
Taylor Explaining to Jordan What They Feel
TYPE IV
Taylor Checking In with Jordan
CHECK-IN SCRIPT
“Hey, how are you doing?”
“Good morning, Taylor. How’re you feeling today?”
Ideally, Jordan:• Will answer as with much depth as they feel comfortable – including not at all
Ideally, Taylor:• Will legitimately care about how Jordan is doing
• Will consider setting up a check-in schedule or recurring appointment with Jordan
Taylor Checking In with Jordan
TYPE V
Jordan and Taylor Talking Like Normal Humans
“Hello fellow human! It is a good day to enjoy things like oxygen and carbon, is it not?”
“It is! Since I am also clearly a human I too enjoy those things, as well as making pleasant conversation through my mouth-parts.”
Ideally, Jordan:• Will talk with Taylor like they are a fellow human being who has varied attributes interests
Ideally, Taylor:• Will talk with Jordan like they are a fellow human being who has varied attributes interests
Jordan and Taylor Talking Like Normal Humans
THEN DON’T!
MOST IMPORTANTLY
OKAY. TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
TIME FOR SOME ARTTRUTH™.
IF YOU ARE DIAGNOSED WITH A MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUE…
Book cover from Amazon, Fair UseBrad Warner by Doubtboy - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8034985
The Neurobiology of Meditation and Mindfulness, Tobias Esch
http://mentalhealthrecovery.com/wrap-is/
Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workbook
Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workbook
Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workbook
Source: Mary Ellen Copeland, mentalhealthrecovery.com
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies/index.shtmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_psychotherapies
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES PROBABLY
MATTER MORE TO YOU THAN YOU SUSPECT
DIAGNOSES DON’T MATTER AS MUCH AS YOU
THINK THEY DO
BEING ABLE TO DISCUSS ISSUES WITH
COWORKERS (AND OTHERS) IS IMPORTANT
ENABLE THESE DISCUSSIONS BY:
1. Using experiential language
2. Being descriptive, not prescriptive
3. Being compassionate
4. Recognizing that just because you know for one person doesn’t mean you know for everyone
RESOURCES
• osmihelp.org
• Largest nonprofit
dedicated to mental
health in tech
• Annual survey
• Free guidebooks for
employees and HR
OPEN-SOURCING MENTAL
ILLNESS (OSMI)
• mentalhealthfirstaid.org
• 8 hour course
• Literally teaches first aid for
acute psychiatric symptoms
• Includes things like how to
actually ensure someone is
safe if they’re contemplating
suicide
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
TRAINING
• mentalhealthamerica.net
• Self-screening tools for
potential mental health
issues
• Excellent collection of
other resources to learn
about and deal with
diagnoses
MENTAL HEALTH
AMERICA
• suicidepreventionlifeline.
org
OR 1-800-273-8255
• Free and confidential
support, 24/7, for people
in distress
• NOT just suicide – any
emotional distress
NATIONAL SUICIDE
PREVENTION LIFELINE
Slides:
Arthur Doler@arthurdoler
Handout: Handout:
http://bit.ly/2yqRfYJ
http://bit.ly/2zrh2hE