Mind Matters with Rex Urwin and Catherine Connolly Podcast

Donna Thistlethwaite Interview - From Surviving To Thriving: Mental Health In The Workplace

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In a beautifully honest interview, Donna Thistlethwaite talks to Catherine about managing stress and mental health in the workplace. 

After working as an HR professional for a corporate organisation for around 15 years, and with a small child, Donna found herself leading a small team for a new controversial project. 

After a series of challenges, Donna’s mental health suffered to the point where she tried to take her own life. 

Now, she’s an international mental health and resilience speaker and has presented for QSuper, Connexus Financial, Aurecon, Seqwater, Queensland University of Technology, Powerlink Queensland, and Western Downs Regional Council, among others. 

She’s also a Career Coach and co-founder of Career Vitality, which provided career services to individuals, parents and organisations.  

Episode highlights: 

  • Who Donna is and a little about her background - started a new role whilst working as an HR professional for a corporate organisation
  • The pivotal moment for Donna was when she had an argument with a colleague
  • A few other events triggered self-doubt
  • Dealing with Imposter Syndrome - losing sight of her strengths and feeling like a failure
  • Questioning her whole identity and her previous strengths
  • How Donna let her mind take over - playing out the worst case scenarios
  • Feeling like the only way out was to take her life and choosing to do that
  • What Donna has learned from ‘surviving’
  • Recognising the difference between how she used to be and how she is now
  • Accepting that her failures in the workplace didn’t define who she was
  • Reality test what’s going on in your head
  • Donna’s advice to others who aren’t coping - reach out and talk to someone
  • Setting up a business 18 months after her “mental health crisis”
  • Donna’s 6 strategies for improving her mental health
  • Donna’s journey as a Career Coach and a speaker sharing her experience

    • Useful links: 

    Donna Thistlethwaite Website

    Donna Thistlethwaite on LinkedIn

    Career Vitality Website

    Donna on Facebook 

    Donna on Twitter

    Mind Matters Link: 
    Mind Matters Website
    Catherine Connolly on LinkedIn
    Rex Urwin on LinkedIn
    Mind Matters Twitter 
    Mind Matters Facebook
    [email protected]

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    Mind Matters with Rex Urwin and Catherine Connolly PodcastBy Rex Urwin and Catherine Connolly