It’s Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Mental Health Week (MHW) in Canada, where we pay specific attention to acknowledging the mental health challenges people from all walks of life are facing, particularly coming out of one of the most difficult periods in our country’s history.
The theme of this year’s MHW is EMPATHY…which is the capacity we share as human beings to step into each other’s shoes, understand where others are coming from and what they’re feeling. Empathy is also about reducing and resolving conflict by listening openly and doing our best not to judge.
According to CMHA, showing someone empathy is not about what you feel, think or see as the right thing to do but rather about trying to put yourself in the position of the other person. Most often it’s simply about listening and not trying to solve their problems.
When Barack Obama was president of the United States, he suggested that the biggest deficit in the world had nothing to do with the economy but everything to do with empathy. Given what we have been through during the pandemic, which includes the unfortunate loss of businesses and employees, empathy is critical if we are to effectively address the serious ramifications on families, communities and other segments of our society. Furthermore, it is absolutely vital that we view these displaced individuals beyond their role as a former co-worker or professional colleague, and instead through the lens of a spouse, parent, sibling, friend, or any other identity they possess outside of the office. Over recent months, many of us have been called upon to exercise empathy.
In the case of our hard-hit tourism and hospitality sector, empathy is also a fundamental principle of what’s known as peer support, which involves actively listening to a colleague talk about their challenges and offering support based on your own experiences. That said, there is a fine line between being helpful or hurtful. Again, according to CMHA, our cognitive biases are not always accurate and can lead to analyzing situations based on stereotypes, including the “you get what you deserve” bias.
As sector associations, we have never heard from more individuals in our industry struggling with mental health than over the past two years. Sadly, the number of people affected continues to grow in spite of the fact we’re on the road to recovery.
During MHW, it’s important for members and stakeholders to recognize that BCHA, TIABC, our partners at go2HR and many others are continuing to advocate for resources needed to address mental health, as well as to draw attention to the issue through forums, workshops, social media, and other communication channels that provide learning opportunities for our industry to take the necessary actions to address the challenges we’re all impacted by.
As a first step, practicing empathy is something every one of us can do. CMHA notes that if empathy doesn’t come easily to you, it can be learned and practiced. It can also help us know ourselves better, as well as support and connect with others.
During Mental Health Week, we sincerely hope you’ll take the time to recognize the people who need empathy and your gift of listening and seeking to understand their struggles with the goal of helping them through to the other side. As colleagues, friends or family, the least we can do is love, forgive, listen to, and assist people who are having difficulty facing each day, especially if you’re part of the problem.
If we all share the burden, no one would have to face the issue of mental health on their own.
Ingrid Jarrett, Walt Judas
President & CEO, BCHA CEO, TIABC
