Mettie Spiess is an international mental health speaker, nationally certified corporate health coach, and the founder of A World Without Suicide. She is known as a “tiny but mighty” and a “stigma-crusher” by clients nation-wide.
Mettie shares her practical (Voice. Value. Vigilance.) leadership process with companies to effectively support employee mental health and increase the effectiveness of their wellness programs.
We start off the interview with Mettie telling her personal story, the fears and stigma around mental health at the workplace what signs do you look for and what if there are no signs? She shares her framework of Voice. Value. Vigilance. which is extremely tangible.
Let’s talk about mental health. People are struggling and at the very least, we’re in the position to highlight mental health resources available to our population.
Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:
- When people are in a suicidal mindset, they truly believe they are a burden and the people in their lives are better off without them. Suicide seems like the least selfish option.
- Many people worry that they’re not qualified to talk about mental health but wouldn’t you help someone you found face down in a pool (without worrying about your CPR certification being up to date)?
- Mettie’s framework is Voice. Value. Vigilance.
- 7 out of 10 suicide deaths in 2016 were completed by middle aged men.
- 50% of individuals who have unmanaged mental health issues are trying to treat it with drugs or alcohol.
- 80% of individuals who die by suicide exhibit at least one warning sign.
- If you have health coaching for employees, ask if they are trained in mental health first aid.
Check out these highlights (with timestamps):
- Why Mettie decided to break the stigma around mental health [6:58]
- More about Mettie’s diagnosis and how she practices self-care [11:58]
- The common misconceptions of mental health in the workplace [14:40]
- Specific employer examples of breaking the stigma [17:49]
- Mettie walks through her Value. Vigilance. framework [19:00]
- Warning signs and how to respond [25:40]
- Jen’s experience with a family member who attempted suicide [29:54]
- The 2 goals for an employer to focus on after an employee dies by suicide [35:28]
- Mettie’s first step we can take to start the conversation around mental health [42:30]
Mentioned in this episode:
3 suicidal mindsets: http://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2009/06/sci-brief.aspx
Company examples of supporting mental health: http://workplacementalhealth.org/Case-Studies
Stigma Free Blueprint available at: corporate.mettiespiess.com
Mettie@aworldwithoutsuicide.com
Full Bio:
Mettie Spiess is an international mental health speaker, nationally certified corporate health coach, and the founder of A World Without Suicide. She is known as a “tiny but mighty” and a “stigma-crusher” by clients nation-wide.
Mettie shares her practical (Voice. Value. Vigilance.) leadership process with companies to effectively support employee mental health and increase the effectiveness of their wellness programs.
In 2016, the National Alliance on Mental Illness awarded Mettie the Education Advancement Award for her work to end the stigma associated with mental illness. The impact principals she delivers in her trainings are based on her nine years’ experience coaching employees to transition from living to living well.
Twitter: @Mettiespiess
Linkedin: Mettie Spiess
Instagram: Mettie Spiess