Mental health for all? Intentional action

“We can all use a little more compassion, whether it’s at work, at school or in our day-to-day lives.”

It's Mental Health Week in Canada, but mental health is a global concern, making this post relevant everywhere.

Each year, the Canadian Mental Health Association chooses a theme to inspire us to support mental health for ourselves and others. This year’s theme is “compassion,” urging us to practice kindness toward ourselves and others. The tagline is powerful: empathy + action = compassion. I prefer this variation: empathy + compassion = action.

Action is outcome-focused, and achieving it requires openness to different perspectives and intentions. Life presents various challenges, and recognizing our feelings and reactions is a delicate yet crucial task. How can we navigate this in a world filled with distractions and busy schedules?

Perhaps Canadian Mental Health Week can prompt us all to reflect on this important question.

Later this week, an internal mental health initiative will gather TELUS team members to hear from colleagues who will share their experiences of demonstrating compassion toward themselves or others for better mental health and well-being.

I'm eager to hear their stories. In the meantime, I'm considering how I can contribute within my circle of influence, and it comes down to heartfelt listening—not just when people speak but also when they’re quiet. Instead of worrying about who should initiate the next call, I now reach out when someone crosses my mind. It only takes a few minutes, but it could bring hope to someone on the other end of the line.

This is how I make a difference. How about you?