Julia

But that night was anything but normal. Julia came home, tried the nebulizer, but it didn’t work. She started coughing non-stop, panicking, and then yelled, "Ambulance! 911!" Those were her last words before she had a heart attack right there in our home.

I called an ambulance while chasing my mother, who was running outside screaming. My little brother and Julia's best friend tried performing CPR on her. Twelve minutes later, the ambulance arrived and took her to the nearest hospital. Five days later, they told us she was brain dead. Four days after that, on July 2nd, 2000, at 6 in the morning, my beautiful sister passed away.

The Aftermath

Julia was 29 years old, healthy, beautiful, kind, generous, a smart lawyer, and incredibly funny. She had no major health issues besides well-controlled asthma managed by several doctors.

This was devastating and a major trauma for me and my family. At 19, I started having episodes where I would get dizzy, feel like throwing up, and feel my throat closing, as if I was going to die. I ended up in the ER several times, only to be told after numerous tests that nothing was physically wrong. No one had an explanation.

Searching for Support

Months later, after seeing many specialists, someone finally suggested that I might be experiencing panic attacks. In 2003, mental health awareness was nowhere near where it is today. Imagine having doctors run countless tests without anyone considering anxiety caused by trauma.

After many therapists, psychiatrists, and different medications, I was able to control the attacks somewhat. But they would still come out of the blue, sometimes during work presentations, meetings, or even while waiting in line for lunch with colleagues.

Over the years, I became very open about my mental health issues. I was never embarrassed and became an advocate for others to talk freely about it too.

However, not all employers were supportive. At one multinational company, my boss told colleagues it was a shame I was "crazy" and had all these issues. On the other hand, some employers let me take time for doctor appointments, helped with better insurance coverage, and supported me during crises.

My current boss recently helped me through a panic attack at work. He gave me tips, covered for me, and suggested things I could do. He told me to come back whenever I was ready.

What happened? Instead of having a horrible day, I took 30 minutes off and came back ready to tackle the day because I felt supported.

Partnering with F’inn: Insights on Mental Health

We recently partnered with F’inn to research mental health, and here are some findings:

• Experience with Mental Health Issues: 34% of people suffer from mental health issues themselves, while 50% know someone outside their home who does.
  
  

• Support from Companies: People believe companies can best support mental health by including therapy in health insurance (30%), offering additional time off for mental health issues (16%), and fostering open discussions about mental health (15%).

How Employers Can Support Mental Health

Here are a few suggestions for employers:

• Create a Safe Space: Allow employees to talk openly about their mental health issues, or to keep them private, without fear of judgment.
• Include Therapy in Health Insurance: Make mental health services a standard part of health coverage. Do not expect the people who need it to ask for it.
• Offer Flexible Work Hours: When possible, allow for remote work or flexible schedules.
• Provide Additional Time Off: Offer extra time off specifically for mental health needs beyond standard sick leave. If possible, allow people to take mental health days off work without explaining that this is why they need time off.
• Foster Open Discussions: Bring in experts to talk to everyone about mental health and create a culture where these conversations are normalized.

Supporting mental health in the workplace isn't just about being compassionate—it's about creating an environment where employees feel valued, understood, and ready to do their best work. Let's continue to push for better mental health awareness and support in all areas of our lives.