24/7 Mental Health Crisis Support
(877) 882-5122

24/7 Medical Support
(877) 882-5122

Get help today!
(877) 882-5122

NEWS

Promoting employee mental health with the HOPE Taskforce

Share This Post

The compassion and grace that comes naturally for many staff when working with clients is essential to the work done at A&C. But it doesn’t stop with the clients—it’s also essential to the relationships forged between colleagues. 

That’s why Matt Bane, Behavioral Health Liaison, wanted to make a change when he started sensing some negative biases surrounding his openness about his mental health and struggles he was going through.

His desire to make a difference came to fruition through his involvement in New Employee Orientations (NEOs), where he had the opportunity to talk with new staff with full transparency and set the expectation that A&C would be a place that they could be wholly seen and heard.

“I usually tell everyone a little bit about my story before I start the training. I let them know that I was a client with Adult & Child before joining the team and that it’s because of A&C that I am here where I am today, living the sober journey,” Matt said. “Being that vulnerable, staff were starting to reach out to me afterwards.”

Matt naturally became a listening ear to a lot of staff members who had questions about anything from sobriety to mental health and many things in between. Annika Chosnik, Skills Development Specialist, was one of those staff members who connected with Matt. They shared a pivotal conversation about facing stigma surrounding mental health issues while working in behavioral health. Knowing that A&C staff wear a lot of different hats and don’t have much extra time to spare, they believed that there should still be a space for staff to access compassion and understanding.

“There should be some time to sit down and talk with one another, be vulnerable, talk through things we’re going through at work or at home, be supportive of one another, and share lived experiences and resources,” Matt explained. “If we can take just an hour once a month in our busy schedules to sit and talk about these things, it makes a huge difference.”

From these conversations, the H.O.P.E. Taskforce was born. The foundation of the taskforce is a monthly meeting, split into two sessions, where members receive a presentation on a mental health topic and then have a safe space to talk openly. After Matt’s ideas started taking shape around early fall of 2022, he presented the Taskforce to Clinical Council and was met with positivity and encouragement. The employee sessions officially launched in January of 2023 and due to their success, an additional cohort for Team Leaders, led by Christina Ladd, Team Leader, was launched in June.

What began with just Annika and Matt has grown to nearly 75 members, with an average of 24 attendees over the two meeting sessions each month. In the Taskforce’s early days, each meeting mainly focused on the presentation. As Taskforce members have grown more comfortable, the meetings have evolved and become more conversational.

For Matt, one of the most rewarding parts of the taskforce is seeing how it’s grown.

“More staff are understanding that it’s not just an hour to come and learn about a self-care topic,” he said. “We’re getting to know more about one another and it’s highly beneficial in a working environment. It’s continuing to grow, and we get to see members branch off and do their own thing or get inspired.”

Maybe even more rewarding, though, is the Taskforce’s potential to influence others beyond A&C. When Matt talks to outside providers about the Taskforce, he says that they’re excited to ask questions and learn more.

“We are an organization that I truly feel wants to be known in the community by other organizations. We want them to look and see ‘A&C is doing this; how is it that you’re doing it so successfully?’ The goal is for it to be a structured thing that we can help others implement to empower staff, allow vulnerability, and help employee retention.”

The H.O.P.E. Taskforce has created a space for employees and leaders to talk about their struggles, free of judgement and stigma. Matt hopes it can also stand as an example and as proof to others that anyone with an idea can impact change at A&C. 

“I’m a huge brainstormer. One of the amazing things about this agency and about my team is that I can go to them with some of the most far-fetched brainstorm ideas,” Matt said. “I would highly encourage anyone who does have an idea to find someone to listen and to guide you.”

More To Explore

Agency News

Mental Health America recognizes Adult & Child Health will Gold Bell Seal

Adult & Child Health received the national Gold-level Bell Seal certification from Mental Health America, which recognizes policies, practices and benefits supporting employee mental health and wellbeing.  Every year since 2019, Mental Health America has recognized employers for implementing policies and practices to improve employees’ mental health. Companies across all sectors undergo a 54-point evaluation that includes surveys of employees.  Adult & Child Health employs more than 600 people in southern Indiana, with areas of focus on behavioral health, primary care and treatment for substance use addictions.  “The work our team members perform on a daily basis is challenging, but they continue to live our mission of providing access to quality care for all who need it on a daily basis,” said Dr. Christine Negendank, Adult & Child Health Regional President and Chief Medical Office. “This recognition from Mental Health America is a testament to our team members and the work they do in order to make Adult & Child a great place to work.”  Part of Adult & Child’s recognition comes from a three-pronged strategy to address employee mental health:  1) Adult & Child’s employee assistant program provides mental health services, including short-term counseling and provider referrals. The average time between an employee inquiry and their first session with a provider is five business days. The EAP program provides up to five free in-person or virtual therapy sessions.  2) The HOPE Taskforce is a safe place for non-managerial staff members to convene to discuss work stressors, life stressors, mental health resources and coping strategies in a space that encourages colleagues to support one another.  3) The GROW committee is for leaders to convene and develop support systems for one another.  Mental Health America is the nation’s leading national nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being, and illness prevention. Its Bell Seal awards recognize an average of fewer than 300 American companies per year.

Sarah Miller, PMHNP-BC

Sarah Miller works with the addictions team, general psychiatry for adolescents and adults, and the competency restoration team. She is board-certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Her specialties are working in addictions and with people who experience serious mental illness.

Miller graduated from Indiana University with a psychology degree and went back to school for nursing. She received her nursing degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and worked in a nursing home and also spent time working in a group home with adolescents. She received her master’s degree from Vanderbilt University.

She enjoys hanging out with her family and her two dogs, and going to sporting events.

Joanna Chambers, MD

Dr. Joanna Chambers is a psychiatrist who began seeing Adult & Child Health patients in November 2021. She graduated from Medical College of Georgia with her Doctorate of Medicine in 1996 and completed her residency in psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. In addition to bringing a wealth of experience, she currently serves as an associate professor at Indiana University School of Medicine where she teaches Clinical Psychiatry. She is certified in Addiction Medicine and has a special interest in treating pregnant and postpartum women. She is President of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry Organization as well as a sitting member of many medical association boards. Recently, she has won the Residents’ Award for Teaching Excellence in 2020 from Indiana University and has received “Best Doctors Award” in 2010, 2011, and 2014. Dr. Chambers is incredibly active in the medical, academic, and research realms of medicine. She is currently accepting new patients on Wednesdays.