Jeff Kunkel talks about “CFer Mental Helpers (Stay Sane during Crises)” in this episode of the CF Alive Podcast, with host Michaela Light.

Show notes

Why now

In normal times, 20% of Americans have mental illness every year (APA)

Now in lockdown and economic depression, it is >60% ill

30% clinical depressed

30% PTSD

(and remaining 40%...)

Who is this episode for

CFers with mental illness

Even if they don’t realize it yet

CFers with teammates with mental illness

CIOs, PMs, Team Leaders and manager concerned about their staff

What is mental illness?

Significant changes in thinking, emotion and/or behavior

Distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities

But can be hidden as it is in the mind

Types

Depression

Hopelessness - negative self-talk, self-hate

Numbness

Apathy

Anxiety

Obsessive Worry, beyond reality

OCD

Paranoia

Not dealing well with uncertainty

Bipolar Affective Disorder

Schizophrenia

Dementia 

Causes

Stress

Distress - bad

Eustress - good

Trauma

Isolation

Oxytocin

Lack of support

Poor nutrition

Chemical imbalances

Lack of sunlight

Vitamin- D

Serotonin

Lack of sleep

Lack of exercise

Overindulgence

Chemical effects

Addictions

(Mind-body connection

The stereotypical ColdFusion developer!

What to look for

Withdrawn

Outbursts

Anger, crying, jokes

Cries for help

Dark humor

Denial 

Poor attendance/performance

Physical sickness eg backache, exhaustion 

Sudden changes

Eating

Sex

Drug

How can we help?

Good boundaries

Be a resource

Open door policy

1 on 1 check-in

Daily stand up brief check-in of feelings

Relate personal experience 

Show you care

Go to groups and churches. Team building activities/outings 

Make reasonable accommodations 

Recommend professional help

Getting professional help

Your primary care physician

Your insurance company may have a list of covered providers

The website for the board of licensed professionals in your state

Ask someone how they found theirs 

See the end of the presentation for some additional links

How not to help

Tough it through

Blame

Panic

Diagnose

Excuse poor performance

Make light of their situation

Shaming

Potential pitfalls

Some people do not want help

Denial

All ready dealing with it

It can be very uncomfortable 

To be ill

To be around the ill

To discuss

EQ

Shame

Forcing the issue can make it worse

Suicide

Time to talk about the elephant in the room

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US

Is 2nd leading cause in 30-year-olds

On average, there are 129 suicides per day.

Approx 40k per year

1.4M suicide attempts per year (2018)

An estimated 9.3 million adults (3.9% of the adult U.S. population) reported having suicidal thoughts in the past year. 

Suicide and self-injury cost the US $69B per year (2015)

The annual U.S. suicide rate increased by 24% between 1999 and 2014

After suicide

It is not your fault 

Be supportive

Support survivors

(let’s take a breath!)

Prevention - Self-Care

Practice what you preach

Eat right

Get some sleep

Blue blocker glasses

Go out in the sun

Go in nature

Accept help from others

Working From Home

Get dressed

Keep a schedule

Have a separate work area

Limit distractions

Have regular proactive breaks away from the computer

Get “face time” with colleagues via Zoom etc

Allow yourself to be bad at WFH

WFH as a skills

Good boss for staff WFH

Practice

Rat race rant

We are not looking at these incredible mental illnesses and suicide statistics as being indicative of ...