This Mental Health Week we're featuring some of the best ....
Today, we're pleased to introduce you to Debbie Lang Pearmain!
Debbie is a mental health advocate who has worked with Lifeworks for the past 10 years, assisting clients in developing supportive workplace cultures, employee engagement surveys, training and coaching around mental health and wellbeing.
In the last few years, she has put in over 500 1-on-1 coaching hours! She coaches and mentors HR folks around mental health in the workplace, and is a regular conference speaker, and association presenter. She delivers approximately 15 mental health and wellbeing training sessions per month to workplaces with up to 100 attendees!
In the last year, she has taught over 150 wellness and wellbeing sessions in the workplace reaching over 3,000 participants. These sessions have impacted nearly 40,000 people in the last 10 years.
Debbie answered the following questions for us:
Q: What is your story? Why are you an advocate for mental health?
A: Mental Health has been a part of my family story. Many people I love have been impacted by mental health and at times in my own life my mental health was affected by life events. I am grateful for the people I have met along the way who have taught me, supported me, and encouraged me and know that I would not be the person that I am today without the access to the learning or support that I have had. I am truly grateful for all I have learned. I am passionate about seeing people live in freedom and experience all their life can be - I love to empower others to be their best selves and it's a privilege for me to share in someone else's life story in a positive way. I love to champion others to keep going when things are hard and not give up. There is always a way forward - sometimes we just need help to see it, and the support of others to get there.
Q: How do you care for your own mental health?
A: Mental health is a daily journey and not a destination I arrive at. It’s the small habits and behaviours each day that either add to, or take away from my mental wellbeing. Things that add to my joy, peace, and wellbeing: uplifting music, daily exercise, time in nature, rest and down time, fun and play, laughter, hobbies and interests, caring for others and a purpose/cause greater than myself, time with friends and loved ones, meditation, yoga, prayer, healthy food, and sunshine!
Debbie, thank you for the fantastic work you do in the mental health space!