Many managers want to talk to employees about mental health, but don’t know how. Many employees want to talk to their colleagues about mental health or addiction (whether theirs or their coworkers’) but don’t know how to bring it up or what to say.

These Lunch ‘n Learn events, titled “Normalizing the conversation about mental health” provide an easy way to share practical tips for talking and connecting in a casual context. They include:

• A talk about how to talk to coworkers about mental health by a TED Speaker (Bill Bernat, How to Connect with Depressed Friends) based on research conducted with professionals about what works and doesn’t for them
• Upbeat stories from thriving professionals with lived experience
• An opportunity for your company representative to share support offerings and resources

The #1 thing that would make people more open to talk about mental health at work is knowing their coworkers would not make a big deal out of it. For that reason, this event has an upbeat tone and doesn’t make a big deal out of it. It creates a safe space for people to listen, learn, and contribute if they want.

Optionally, Bill can coach people in your organization who would like to share their story about learning to live and work well with a mental health condition. By including their own managers’ or employees’ stories, an organization gains an additional degree of human connection.

Bill’s story “Oreo Relapse: was featured on The Moth Radio Hour, syndicated on over 200 NPR stations. It was also featured separately on Seattle’s KUOW.

Bill has one mission in life. To create more moments of happiness that occur when people connect, particularly around depression and anxiety. Over 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or a similar condition in their lifetime (US Center for Disease Control).

We are all impacted directly or indirectly, yet most of us are afraid to talk about it. We don’t know what to say or how to say it, so we often say nothing or brush it off. Bill helps people connect by bringing joy to the discussion of his journey through depression, addiction, and social anxiety to living well.

Bill worked in IT for many years before forging a new career in tech marketing. So he knows business world’s challenges and its rewards as only an insider can. Bill helps businesses succeed by creating a more open culture that inspires good people and engenders collaboration.

Short Bio:

Bill’s TED Talk on How to Connect with Depressed Friends has almost two million views. He is a recovering addict (12 years clean) living with bipolar II condition who advocates for mental health awareness. A tech industry veteran, Bill knows first-hand what it’s like to succeed in business while living well with depression and anxiety.

Bill is also an accomplished comedy storyteller (The Moth Radio Hour), inspirational speaker (Goalcast), and award-wining playwright (Becoming More Less Crazy).