Parul Shah

What I’ve been up to in the Mental Health industry ! As a CEO of a small mental health service in Ontario, I believe being a voice of the unheard is much needed. Being part of the mental health industry I hold an obligation to provide guidance through tools and insights, without fluffing the truth about mental health for employees.... Mental health has been in crisis for over 15 years. I’ve seen many , even thousands of band-aiding the system from CEOs of bigger companies to the lack of understanding from our government. Mental health can be looked as a business , but it’s way more than that. Mental health is about anyone, the struggles they face, the injustice they face, the toxic they face within their own workplaces. Many CEO’s often try to state we need to do more for employees, but without understanding they are also part of the problem, becomes the problem. Mental health crisis within companies, deny they are the cause of mental health deterioration for their employees, yet if you speak to any employee about their mental health , 80 percent of the time, they will disclose that a factor is around toxic workplaces. Without that acknowledgement from CEO’s , mental health crisis will continue in the business industry. Yes, it truly starts from the top! Sharing a few pictures of not only sharing insights and stories, but placing them into action. Proactive measures are now required to not only subside the mental health crisis but more so of taking the time, to lend a hand , listening ear and compassionate heart to anyone who needs to share what hurts them and what pains them. Acceptance is the key to be truly free and that is how we empower our employees and each other. #GetLouderOnMentalHealth #GetReal

Unfortunately this news isn’t surprising. Mental health professionals have been talking about echo pandemic since April 2020, yet there have been no or little acknowledgement by government officials on how they would help. Our public mental health system has been broken for over 15 years yet it seems like when we are constantly in crisis, we need a quick fix.... Proactive is key to sustain, maintain snd even thrive around our mental health. We can no longer band-aiding our mental health #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

As employers learn skills on how to engage employees and to compassionately share insights around mental health, it’s important to note, that a quarterly check in’s will no longer exist. Employers must understand mental wellness will require weekly check ins. Why?... The pandemic has created an aftermath of emotions around the fear of taking time of for mental health, job security, financial security. Even prior to the pandemic the above were still very real. The pandemic, magnified it. And if employers only see employees as a means to an end, even after a quarterly check in, you will lose employees and it can create a toxic workplace. Employers, Mental health will require much more than just asking if they are okay. #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

Let’s hope that the distribution of the funds given to OPP , would decrease the mental health crisis their members have been through. Money funded to support is a good start. Implementation of the support, is another. #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

Trauma changes people . Period. Trauma is not fixable. It’s manageable. This article states that Complex Developmental Trauma , is a condition characterized by prolonged exposure to traumatic events in early life, resulting in the impairment to make meaningful connections and relationship, or in simple terms unresolved childhood trauma. ... In the article, the author believes that leaders can help fix this for their employees to have a better overall mental health. Allowing a safe space to speak of what happened , allows healing, not a fixable component. Unresolved childhood trauma often comes with a magnitude of diagnosis that can include but not limited to - Complex PTSD; borderline personality disorders. The above diagnosis are not fixable but can be manageable through regular appts medical and mental health professionals and developing healthy attachments to people and their surroundings. The article provides this power to Employers that mental illness can be cured by how they manage their employees. This is an example how business articles believe they can alter anything for productivity, including someone else’s trauma. Be careful what you read. Ask questions. Is this realistic?. And if it is true why haven’t many been cured from their complex trauma they have endured. #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

Like the everlasting question who came first the chicken or the egg - does addiction come first then the trauma ? Addiction of any form is often a secondary factor/sign of something deeper going on. Addiction is often a mask whether known or unknowingly worn , especially when someone is just trying to exist in their own world and unsure how.... Addiction is a significant sign yet it is not often picked up by the person , sometimes it can take a significant fall to recognize help is needed for them. Trauma can lead to a fork in the road. It can lead someone to say I need help now; it can lead someone to try to suck it up and move forward like nothing is wrong. ; it can lead someone crying for help but guilt and shame cannot allow themselves to ask; it can lead to misuse of drugs, sex, alcohol, gambling, etc to numb the pain they are feeling; and yes it can lead to the road of suicide, after trying to numb the pain through their addictive behaviour but it didn’t numb it - it made it worse for them and could not bear. Please remember that trauma changes people. Period. We need to reach in when others are trying to reach out but feel they cannot. #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

Why we need to keep in person therapy alive as we continue with digital health care in 2021. #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

2020 brought in a lot of loss, including the basic essential of human connection. Yet, predictions for 2021 is that remote learning; working from home is here to stay. But how do we manage our mental health? Can we place boundaries? Are we able to place boundaries? And how are our employers provide the mental health support we have been striving for prior to the pandemic? Can they deliver ? Many questions around mental health in the workplace. I’m sharing an insightful artic...le that brings in hope with initiatives as we strive for action around mental health incentives, especially in the workforce. #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

It’s the most unusual year of them all. I know on any other Christmas holiday we hear many are not so jolly over the holiday season. This year has brought in all of us into weathering a similar storm. I want to let you know YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS PATH! Ottawa Distress Centre -613-238-3311 TeleHealth:+1-866-797-0000 ... Kids Help Phone tel:1-800-668-6868 Kids Help Phone Crisis Text Chat sms:686868 Toronto Distress Line 416-408-4357 Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366 First Responders 24/7 Peer Support living in Ontario : 1-833-677-2668 Suicide PreventionHotline: 1-800-273-8255 Canadian Suicide Prevention Services :1-833-456-4566. Contact 211 to get specific mental health in your area. #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

I was recently interviewed by a Toronto blogger around pandemic and mental health. Here is the article. Note: I did correct author of my title and changes will be made.... Registered Psychotherapist under the college of psychotherapy Psychotherapist/Registered Social Worker under the College of Social Work. ( this is me:) #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

Just because we all work from home during this pandemic, doesn’t mean toxic workplaces no longer exist. It still does. Knowing our rights as employees can help guide ourselves into a productive and healthy head spaces. Employers still need to do their part to make it happen as well.... #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

We need to start acknowledging that #MentalHealth Care is by far required during this pandemic , yet it’s ignored . #EchoPandemic is very real and this may not be an easy recovery. #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

How the simple process of active listening , compassion, flexibility and creativity can provide a safe work space for employees & for their mental health. #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

Virtual therapy has been around my platform since 2018, yet in 2020 it has created a path to healing through our fears , our grief, our anger, our hurt. Without it, we would all be lost. Grateful to be able to provide this platform for so many!... #GetLouderOnMentalHealth

If anything I’ve learned a lot through my own darkness and strength and courage are the building blocks to resiliency. I can attest to that! #GetLouderOnMentalHealth