Lifting the Fog: Mental Health in the Workplace
June 15, 2023, 10-11AM Pacific
Recent studies show that most employees experience mental health challenges in some form, yet just 1/3 receive mental health support. This can be for many reasons, including lack of healthcare access, fear of stigma or loss of job status, and lack of awareness of employer-provided mental health resources. Add to this mix the changing job market, recovery from a pandemic, new models of remote work, and more – it’s no wonder workers and leaders alike are wondering where to turn. Thankfully, recent years have seen a shift toward greater openness about mental health at work, and experts are showing that a healthy workplace environment can be a powerful force for wellbeing for employees and leaders alike.
On June 15, three experts on mental health in the workplace will join us for a conversation moderated by The Seattle Times reporter Esmy Jimenez, answering questions like, is remote work helping or hurting the mental health crisis? How can managers best support their employees without taking on added stress themselves? How do we reduce stigma around mental health at work, and how do we proactively support flourishing? Carrie Grogan of Mind Share Partners, Dr. Nancy Spangler of Spangler Associates, and Dr. Jennifer Dimoff of the University of Ottawa will answer these questions and more as they discuss best practices for creating cultures of flourishing in the workplace.
Carrie Grogan
Carrie leads impact-focused advising for companies and leaders on creating a culture of support for mental health in the workplace. She facilitates Mind Share Partners’ workplace training and leads strategic projects to reduce stigma, increase belonging, and empower organizations and employees to thrive. Carrie has worked with companies like Workday, Morrison Foerster, Canadian Tire, and the YMCA of Greater Richmond.
Carrie is passionate about identifying and creating innovative opportunities for employees to learn more about their values, strengths, and teams. An experienced facilitator, she has developed and implemented many online and in-person workshops, courses, dialogue sessions, and curriculums for broad audiences on topics such as emotional intelligence, inclusive language, effective mentorship, conflict resolution, and values-based leadership. Carrie began her career in higher education focused on leadership development, including at the University of Chicago. She transitioned into learning and development as a Director at RATIO Design, focusing on employee engagement and inclusive workplaces.
Carrie holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Specialized Studies from Ohio University. She is Mental Health First Aid trained and holds an Instructor Certificate in Strengths-Based Education from Gallup.
Dr. Nancy Spangler
Nancy Spangler, PhD, is a consultant, trainer, and coach. As president of Spangler Associates since 1994, she has helped organizations examine the multiple systems that support mental health and well-being with an emphasis on individual and organizational resilience. Her clients have included employers, health care organizations, benefits consultants, pharmaceutical companies, professional organizations, digital learning providers, and governmental agencies. Examples include the American Psychiatric Association Foundation and Greenleaf Integrative in Washington, D.C., X2ai in San Francisco, and Mindful Momentum in Kansas City. Her PhD in therapeutic science and BS and MS degrees in occupational therapy were all from the University of Kansas.
Dr. Jennifer Dimoff
Dr. Jennifer K Dimoff is an Associate Professor at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Dimoff is an Affiliate Faculty member at Portland State University and Oregon Health & Science University. Her primary area of research focuses on the intersections between leadership, employee mental health, and workplace training and interventions. As the youngest recipient of the Society of Industrial/Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Scientist-Practitioner Recognition Award, her research reflects her firm endorsement of the scientist-practitioner model. She has worked with local, national, and international organizations to develop, deliver, and evaluate evidence-based solutions to real workplace problems. Notably, Dr. Dimoff co-developed the Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT)—one of the first scientifically evaluated mental health training programs for workplace leaders to demonstrate ROI. Dr. Dimoff is also a co-leader of the Canadian Foundation of Innovation-funded Triple-I Lab at the University of Ottawa – a state-of-the-art research center, dedicated to analyzing social interactions in work settings. In addition to numerous journal publications and chapters, she has co-edited a book, Leading to Occupational Health and Safety: How Leadership Behaviours Impact Organizational Safety and Well-Being.
Esmy Jimenez
Esmy Jimenez is a reporter covering mental health at The Seattle Times. During her time, she’s profiled young, Latino voters for a national collaboration, reported from dozens of protests for racial justice in 2020, and covered the detention and deportation of immigrant youth. She’s a former investigative fellow with Reveal & The Center for Investigative Reporting as well as the ProPublica Data Institute and has earned both print and audio awards for her work.
