“Not acknowledging that millions are dealing with mental health conditions is costing an enormous amount both in terms of dollars and cents and, more importantly, people's lives."
Arianna Huffington
Mental Health at Work Mini-Conference, May 2018
"I personally would like to thank Mind Share Partners for all of your support of this ERG and community from the very beginning when we were unsure, driven, and quite a bit scared on launching something that would make us so vulnerable. You provided resources and insight that gave us direction, hope, and reminded us that what we were creating would matter to our peers. To which, you were right. I'm thankful for Mind Share Partners, what you stand for and all that you're creating in this new area of diversity, inclusion, and belonging."
"After the Mind Share Partners conference, we created our own Mental Health Fund, since our health insurance excludes it, and talked about it so our team knew we had their back and they'd be covered for emergency care for suicidal thoughts, etc.
It's a start. Stigma runs deep. It's good that [Mind Share Partners] is helping workplaces talk about it!"
Just launched! Join our Mind Share Partners Institute certificate program.
Just launched! Join our Mind Share Partners Institute certificate program.
Watch videos of C-level leaders sharing their personal mental health stories in our Leaders Go First campaign >
Mind Share Partners Launches Campaign Featuring C-Level Leaders Speaking Out, Many for the First Time, on Their Mental Health Challenges
.png)
Leaders Go First campaign includes a playbook on how to share your mental health story and video testimonials from C-level executives at Pinterest, Minnesota Vikings, Siemens Energy, and more, as well as a new statement from the U.S. Surgeon General
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | May 8, 2023
Contact: Nina Tomaro | 440-596-8533
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.
###
ABOUT MIND SHARE PARTNERS
Mind Share Partners is a national nonprofit changing workplace mental health culture so employees and organizations can thrive. Its movement building program includes content, campaigns, partnerships, cutting-edge thought leadership, including a virtual community to support leaders of mental health employee resource groups (ERGs). Mind Share Partners also provides full-service, customized workplace mental health training, strategy + advising, and transformation solutions using a proactive, preventive approach with an equity lens. The group’s client roster spans industries and sizes and includes organizations like BlackRock, Genentech, Morrison & Foerster, Pinterest, Tinder, and Yahoo. Mind Share Partners runs two columns in Forbes and Thrive Global, publishes articles in Harvard Business Review, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, TIME, GMA, Fast Company, Bloomberg. Learn more at www.mindsharepartners.org.
For press interviews and inquiries contact:
Nina Tomaro
Marketing and Communications Lead
Mind Share Partners
440-596-853