Over the past few decades, the topic of mental health has often been avoided due to fears associated with lack of understanding and misinformation regarding the subject. More people today realize that mental health affects us all and that it is just as important to our well-being as physical health.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and TD Bank is focused on increasing awareness and helping individuals feel encouraged to share their mental health journeys. In recent years, the bank has become increasingly interested in how raising awareness can break down institutional barriers and create space for individuals to be their authentic selves.
Below are the stories of two TD colleagues who shared their experiences in hopes of inspiring change and encouraging others to be more open about this important topic.
Overcome fear and find a sense of belonging
Beth Josephson loves traveling with her husband and daughter. She enjoys her precious time, whether it's reading her latest thriller with her book club or cuddling on the couch in her black lab at her home in Philadelphia. There is nothing better for her health than spending time with her friends and family.
Beth began her career ten years ago as a bank teller at TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank® (AMCB), working on the retail and commercial team before moving into her current role as a project analyst. came.
One thing Beth didn't want to tell people at work for many years was that she had bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Diagnosed at age 16, she says her symptoms were difficult to manage and she almost didn't graduate from high school. She credits her family and her school with helping her graduate and attend community college before transferring to a four-year university.
She hid her symptoms until she became pregnant with her daughter, who is now 8 years old, and could no longer take medication to control her manic highs and depression.
“I didn’t feel comfortable sharing where I was on my journey and that I had this diagnosis because of what I had experienced in the past with colleagues and certain people… “Because I had a judgment and a bias that I won. If I can't do anything, I won't succeed,” she explained.
But without medication, her condition began to affect her work and she was forced to make it public. For example, a depressive episode may cause you to struggle not to cry during customer interactions or have a panic attack at work.
“My manager pulled me aside and asked, 'How can I help you?' What's going on?'” Beth said. This was the first time I had fully opened up. My managers were very supportive and they also worked with me to find accommodations where I could get the help I needed. It also helped me find more flexibility while going through an extreme episode, which allowed me to utilize my coping skills and prioritize my mental health.”
Beth is also dealing with the challenges of fibromyalgia, which she was diagnosed with three years ago. She credits her TD Bank with helping her overcome her fear of revealing her condition and find her sense of belonging and connection.
Beth now wants to share her experience given the support she has received from her managers and colleagues. The most helpful thing about disclosing her information was that others wanted to hear and learn from her story. For Beth, sharing her own story was an opportunity to get others to consider sharing theirs.
The journey to belonging to and speaking for others
Tracy Hepburn enjoys walking on the beach early every morning to watch the beautiful sunrise. This is part of her daily meditation and mental health routine. She also enjoys spending a lot of time with her family, friends, and her two cats.
The Head of Business Operations at TD Bank Group, based in Port Stanley, Ontario, is a successful businessman and an inspiration to his colleagues. She has been with TD for her 19 years and has worked in several departments, primarily focusing on credit cards and loss prevention. Prior to joining TD, Tracy worked primarily in customer service roles.
She has taken pride in having worked hard “for many years” in each of her career paths. However, at various points in her life, she felt that she often “fake it till you make it.”
These experiences began in childhood. In her fifth grade, Tracy had trouble concentrating. She was labeled “disorderly” and relegated to the hallway, which is sadly common for young people who experience symptoms that are often misunderstood and interpreted as behavioral problems.
Tracy spent the next few years hiding multiple mental health conditions and learning disabilities. She was bullied for being different, a memory she has been trying to overcome for decades. Her experience with Tracy is far from isolated. Her research shows that people with mental health conditions report higher rates of bullying than other people.
“In a world where it's easy to be labeled, we want our colleagues to foster a culture of acceptance and support where everyone can thrive in their uniqueness,” said Erin Forbes, senior HR manager for people with disabilities at TD Bank Group. “I'm working on it,” he says. “It is important that we, as a society, deepen our understanding of mental health and work towards creating a more inclusive world where everyone’s unique needs are supported.”
“When I was in eighth grade, they realized I couldn't read. I was diagnosed with dyslexia.” Teachers recognized that Tracy was having difficulties. Although Tracy didn't realize it at the time, she would continue to experience symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. She didn't get her formal diagnosis until she was in her 30s.
Meanwhile, she continued to pursue a successful career in the banking industry. After years of working with TD, she took the first step in seeking the support she needed by contacting an employee assistance program and found a wide range of resources and tools to help. There was no particular event that led her to take that step, but rather her growing sense that she was now at a stage in her life where she was ready to take that step. .
Tracy decided to prioritize her mental health. Although she felt some reluctance to leave her job, she was fortunate to have the support of her team and HR manager. She spent the next three years searching for the right treatments, tools, and medications that made a huge difference.
“I had to work,” she said, referring to dealing with her mental health condition and finding the right medication to best help her.
“I felt like I was letting the bank down, but I wanted to go back to work. I was able to go back to work in the end because I had the tools. I was doing things like cognitive behavioral therapy. ” she says. “When I came back, I was met with open arms and understanding, so I thought I needed to share what I was going through. I needed to be an advocate for myself and hopefully others.” I also wanted to be a spokesperson.”
It's still very emotional to recall some of her most difficult moments at the time, dealing with side effects. Now, Tracy is able to help others find resources, ask her manager to conduct health screenings, and encourage her co-workers to prioritize her mental and emotional health. Masu.
