Did you know that 1 in 2 Canadians have or will have a mental illness by age 40 and that a lack of mental wellbeing is the leading cause of workplace disability keeping some 500,000 employed Canadians from attending work each week? I think that’s a staggering statistic. And it’s not just in Canada. The estimate worldwide is that 450 million people are currently struggling with their mental wellbeing.
And while many people feel comfortable talking about their mental health, one group of people who are more likely to suffer in silence are men. Men often avoid talking about their mental wellbeing because they feel a strong need to demonstrate emotional stability and not show weakness. This is especially true for leaders who are expect to keep it together regardless of the pressure or personal challenges they may face.
Did you know that 1 in 2 Canadians have or will have a mental illness by age 40 and that a lack of mental wellbeing is the leading cause of workplace disability keeping some 500,000 employed Canadians from attending work each week? I think that’s a staggering statistic. And it’s not just in Canada. The estimate worldwide is that 450 million people are currently struggling with their mental wellbeing.
And while many people feel comfortable talking about their mental health, one group of people who are more likely to suffer in silence are men. Men often avoid talking about their mental wellbeing because they feel a strong need to demonstrate emotional stability and not show weakness. This is especially true for leaders who are expect to keep it together regardless of the pressure or personal challenges they may face.
My guest in this episode of the HR Mentor lived through these stigmas. David Trawin is the Chief Administrative Officer at the City of Kamloops. He is an Urban Planner by profession and before taking over the top job at the City, David was the Director of Development Services at the City of Kamloops. David holds a Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University where he attended on an NCAA Scholarship.
David is a father to two adult boys, an avid fisher, an artist, a wine connoisseur, and a really generous and kind human being.
I worked with David for almost four years in my role as an HR Advisor with the City and he has always been someone I admire and enjoyed working with. In this episode, David and I talk about some significant health issues he experienced over the last year, what he has learned about himself and how this has affected him as a leader. We also talk about the role of HR in supporting employees and how HR professionals can build trusting relationships with leaders.
Regardless of where you are in your career, I think you will get a lot out of our conversation; I know I did.
Here are a few links to connect with David and check out the books we discussed in this episode:
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Connect with David on LinkedIn
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Learn about the City of Kamloops
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Read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
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Read Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emilie Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Here are helpful links to resources to support your mental health and wellbeing:
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If you are in crisis and need to talk to someone, please call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566 (24/7) or text 45645 (4 pm to 12 am ET).
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Public Health Canada - lots of links and resources
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Province of BC Mental Health Supports
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Canadian Mental Health Association of BC
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World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health Supports Page
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Checkpoint.org Provides a list of Resources in many countries
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