A Commitment to Mental Health and Wellbeing
Even on our busiest days, it is important to take time to reset and find balance — advice I often give but must remind myself to heed as well.
From the pandemic to personal obligations and heartbreaking headlines about social injustice and disasters, life can throw curveballs and be overwhelming. Coupled with working remotely during the pandemic, feelings of isolation can also set in. As a business leader, it is important to me that our associates’ mental health and wellbeing are a priority, and that as a company, we support our associates in finding balance between personal and professional commitments as well as provide access to the resources that can help achieve this.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a reminder that millions of Americans suffer from mental illness – but it is also an opportunity to destigmatize mental illness, promote greater awareness, and share resources for those who need them. At Alliance Data, we take a holistic approach to the wellbeing of our associates, and offer a variety of resources and programming to help them improve their mental and emotional health through our LivingWell program. I am personally looking forward to our upcoming “Strive for 5” initiative, where associates pledge to check in on five people — whether it be a co-worker, family member, or friend — to help combat loneliness and drive personal connections.
One in five people will experience mental illness during their lifetime, but less than half seek treatment. As a father, husband, and leader, that statistic is unsettling. We all have an opportunity to exercise empathy, kindness, and compassion for the struggles many are going through now, even when we do not always understand those struggles. I hope you will join me in checking in on others and showing that you care.
Mental illness does not discriminate, and today, one in five children lives with a significant mental illness. But unlike a scraped knee or bruise, we do not always recognize mental illness in children — and children often do not wear their thoughts on their sleeves. As a father and Board member of Nationwide Children's Hospital, I am proud to support the #OnOurSleeves Million Classroom Project to provide free, evidence-based mental health and mindfulness resources to one million classrooms across the country. Visit www.OnOurSleeves.org to learn more.