SAN FRANCISCO, CA —National workplace mental health nonprofit Mind Share Partners today launched a nationwide awareness campaign called “Leaders Go First'' to normalize mental health at work and to create a culture of safety. The launch includes a playbook for executive leaders in companies, nonprofits, and government on how to craft and share your workplace mental health story and first-person video stories from leaders sharing their own experiences with mental health challenges.
“When leaders share their stories, it gives their workers permission to do the same,” said Kelly Greenwood, Founder & CEO of Mind Share Partners and frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review. “These executives who are part of our ‘Leaders Go First’ initiative are charting new ground in the workplace. Workplace leaders must speak out to normalize mental health challenges at work and make it safe to seek support while still thriving professionally.”
A 2021 report by Mind Share Partners found that leaders not promoting mental health at work was the most reported obstacle preventing workers from being proactive about self-care.
Participating leader allies in the campaign, found here, include:
Alex Shevchenko, Co-Founder, Grammarly
Andrew Miller, COO, Minnesota Vikings
Andy Dunn, Author, Burn Rate, Cofounder and former CEO, Bonobos
Ariela Safira, CEO & Founder, Real
Johnny Taylor Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, SHRM
Nichole Barnes Marshall, Chief Diversity Equity & Inclusion Officer, Pinterest
Saydeah Howard, Chief Operating Partner, Cherryrock Capital
Schroeder Stribling, President and CEO, Mental Health America
Vinod Philip, Member of the Executive Board, Siemens Energy
Kelly Greenwood, Founder & CEO, Mind Share Partners
The campaign includes a companion leader ally playbook of Mind Share Partners’ best practices on workplace mental health storytelling from years of its client work.
"81% of workers reported that they will be looking for workplaces that support mental health in the future,” said U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, whose current priorities include workplace mental health and well‑being. “That's why efforts like Mind Share Partners’ ‘Leaders Go First’ campaign are so important, because when workplaces step up, when their leaders step up in particular to share their personal mental health stories, it inspires openness and shifts a culture to one where we don't feel ashamed to seek help."
Mind Share Partners is calling leaders at all levels nationwide to join the movement by sharing their mental health stories using the hashtag #LeadersGoFirst.
For details on how to participate go to mindsharepartners.org/leadersgofirst.
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Contacts
Nina Tomaro
Marketing and Communications Lead
Mind Share Partners
About Mind Share Partners
Mind Share Partners is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization that is changing the culture of workplace mental health so that both employees and organizations can thrive.
We help employers create mentally healthy workplaces through consulting, training, and advocacy. Challenges like anxiety, burnout, depression are not just an individual employee’s responsibility. It’s a collective responsibility. That’s why our time-tested approach hinges on changing company culture–and using a DEI lens to do so.