Mental Health – Organizations/Institutions

Mental Health Presentations for Organizations and Institutions

“If a highly skilled, well-educated, talented employee or employer fears speaking up when they are suffering, there are repercussions on all accounts. Not only does the sufferer lose, the workplace environment does as well. Without encouragement to seek early intervention, the sufferer will have a breakdown. Treatment and recovery will be delayed. A return to work will be questionable. This creates fear and judgement within the workplace. Silence thus continues. More people suffer. The damage can be irreversible.”

A world pandemic separated from family, friends, and colleagues. It was traumatic. Fear. Uncertainty. Unpredictability. Never before has our mental health been this crucial. We can’t supress or repress what we went through and continue to go through. We cannot hide our feelings or emotions. Healing begins now. We must be proactive and preventative. Let’s talk about our mental health.

Fear and silence still pervade our workplaces. We are afraid to speak up. I was afraid in 1998. We fear putting our jobs in jeopardy for the sake of our mental health and wellbeing. Talented, educated workers choose to suffer in silence for the sake of their own livelihood. Most workplaces are not creating avenues that encourage employees to reach for help. There is fear of being accepted and understood. Change is imperative.

A workplace must be a place of hope and healing, where individuals thrive because they feel they CAN speak up and receive help early and often. PREVENTION and PROACTION are keys to healthy living. If one is suffering, EARLY INTERVENTION is essential. Speak up early and often. This leads to short-term recovery. The earlier the intervention, the more effective the results. An individual can return to doing what they do best in their walk of life.

We are losing incredible people in the workforce. Some never return because the trauma becomes unbearable and unmanageable. Stigma equals silence. Silence equals suffering. Open up avenues to healing, to sharing, to compassion, and the workplace will reap the benefits. Individuals will recover faster and become ambassadors for other colleagues. They return stronger, healthier, and productivity increases tenfold. This creates a positive work environment and improves overall morale. Bonds are strengthened. Compassion takes the forefront. It’s a win-win for the employee, the employees, the employer, and the overall workplace. Remember, for any change to take place, talk must become action. With change comes early intervention, and the employee will return to work and achieve greater success and achievement because their health is on track. A productive member of society filled with purpose and fulfilment doing what they do best.

I am a mental illness advocate, survivor, author, motivational speaker, and teacher. Since 2013, I have had the wonderful opportunity of speaking to students throughout Ontario about my story of hope, resilience, and healing. I found purpose through writing my memoir and sharing my story. Healing DOES happen. We can speak time and time again about mental health, wellness, and stigma, but when a survivor shares their own life experiences, and their road to healing, the impact is profound. Attitudes and views change forever, and acceptance and compassion for sufferers and their loved ones increases dramatically. We all have a story to share. I now share mine.

I lived a lie, hiding my illnesses for over a decade to avoid discrimination and prejudice. No one should have to do this. We all have a story to share. I now share mine. We are not alone.

“I am not the illness. I have an illness. SEE THE PERSON, not the illness.” 

-Chris Nihmey

Creating Mental Health Awareness

Since 2013, I have hosted over 250 presentations at schools and organizations about my battle with mental illness and finding hope, purpose, and healing in my life. My feedback has been superlative. I continue to speak in 2022. I would love to come speak at your workplace.

My Presentation Goals:

• • Educating about and understanding mental illness
  • Pain is pain, body or brain. Each deserve the same respect.
  • I am “fine”: the dangers of stigma and silence and how to eliminate
  • Speak up EARLY and often to get help and LISTEN to one another
  • Being vulnerable so other coworkers are encouraged to step forward and talk
  • Signs and symptoms to look out for in other co-workers
  • “Hey, Are You Okay?” A motto for life.
  • You are NOT the illness; you have an illness; it is not your fault
  • Be the eyes and ears of your workplace; suicide is preventable
  • Avenues to receiving help: accessible resources in our workplace
  • Utmost importance of empathy, acceptance, and compassion
  • Eliminating stigma and bullying in schools and the workplace
  • Keep the faith in God, family, friends, and yourself. You are not alone
  • Don’t forget “you”. Mental strategies and life changes for healing mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and socially
  • Inspiring hope, purpose, resilience, and healing (Healing DOES happen!)

This presentation opens up avenues for employees and employers to step forward and receive help without prejudice or judgement. Fear kept me from revealing my illnesses for well over a decade, and this included my first two years of permanent teaching. Not one staff member knew. No one should ever fear speaking up. There is a need for compassion and acceptance for all sufferers, big and small, during a very busy and hectic year. Let’s open up an awareness, a discussion of mental health and wellness: what it is, its signs, its effects, and why loving support is crucial for healing. The lines of communication must be open, among each other, and within our families. We are not alone. Hope is there, and with hope comes healing.

We are all responsible for those in our workplace and our families, especially for those suffering from sickness, bullying, abuse or neglect, lacking the support that many of us have. This leads to suffering and in some instances, suicide. Taking your life is never a choice, but a decision impacted by circumstances within and around us (severe illness, addiction, trauma, stigma, bullying, rejection, etc.). Reaching out to someone is a choice. Suicide IS preventable. We must destroy the fear and shame that accompanies sickness. Until our loved ones and workmates feel they can safely step forward and share their stories without judgement and prejudice, they will choose to hide and ultimately lose hope. They must know, deep down, that they are not alone. Every life matters. Hope and healing is a gift we all deserve.

If you are interested in a visit, please click on the “Reserve Your Presentation Now” button. This will take you to my “Contact Chris” page.