Dealing With Loneliness During Self-Isolation
An Open Discussion About The Importance Of Mental Wellness During COVID-19
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In This Episode
We had no idea how timely our Shifting The Employee Experience mini-series on the podcast would be right now to the current events of the world. We’ve taken a step outside of it this week to take advantage of Dr Bill’s knowledge, be very vulnerable about what we are all experiencing and talk through how we can cope with our current work and overall life experiences during COVID-19.
Resources Mentioned In This Episode
Episode Breakdown
First 10 Minutes
The group discusses the impact of COVID-19 and the mental health impacts that it is having on everyone as they work from home. Dr. Bill talks to us about the study he started before COVID-19 hit to understand how Canadian workers handle perceived loneliness and how he could explain to CEOs the financial impact it could have on their businesses to try to shed light on the topic. Dr Bill shares some of the stats around mental health. The group talks about the different impacts and different situations people are finding themselves in right now.
10 Minutes – 20 Minutes
The group digs into the financial aspect of the impact and the potential downfalls we could face in society after this. Greg and Dr Bill discuss the 2008 financial crisis and what we did or didn’t learn from that experience. Dave questions Dr Bill on if there is a psychological component to why we don’t learn or stick to what we said we were going to do during the crisis. Dr Bill flips the question to Dave & Greg for them to explain if the isolation has hit them yet.
20 Minutes – 30 Minutes
The group talks about the possible longevity of this event and how we can prepare to deal with the current situation. Dr. Bill explains how important it is to talk about the perceived barriers that we are all facing right now. Dr Bill explains the various resources that he is creating and sharing daily to help people gain these skills. The group discusses the impact of perspective and how that can impact how they experience current events.
30 Minutes – 35 Minutes
Dr Bill provides some quick tips on how to keep going through this experience.
Dr Bill Howatt
Founder and President of HowattHR author of Stop Hiding and Start Living: How to say F-IT to Fear and Develop Mental Fitness
Dr. Howatt, a behavioural scientist, is known as one of Canada’s top experts in mental health issues in the workplace and has more than 30 years of experience in the field of mental health, addiction, and HR consulting. As a highly-respected columnist for the Globe and Mail, author, clinician, consultant and speaker.
Dr. Howatt is the creator of Pathway to Coping, Certified Management Essentials and Mental Fitness Practice for the University of New Brunswick. He is also co-leading a three year action study with WSPS out of Ontario and the Conference Board of Canada on how to create a psychological safe workplace.
He is Chair of CSA Standard 21008: Management of Substance Related Impairment in the Workplace. Dr. Howatt is a member of the International Research Advisory Council (IRAC) at Pacific Coast University of Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS).
Dr. Howatt has filled the roles as Chief of Research Workforce Productivity for the Conference Board of Canada and Chief of Research and Development, Workforce Productivity at Morneau Shepell where he launched a total health consulting strategy designed to improve health engagement and productivity in Canadian organizations.
He has published numerous over 40 books and 400 articles, such as The Coping Crisis, Pathway to Coping, the Wiley Series on addictions, The Human Services Counseling Toolbox, and The Addiction Counselor’s Desk Reference. He is a regular contributor to The Globe and Mail 9 to 5 and Leadership Lab columns and The Chronicle Herald.
Bill Howatt, is Ph.D., Ed.D., Post Doctorate Behavioral Science, University of California, Los Angeles, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, RTC, RSW, ICADC.