PRSA NJ President Deirdre Lopian recently hosted Hot Topics Happy Hour: Mental Health in the Workplace – Creating A Culture of Support. In this conversation Eric Kussin, CEO/Founder, #SameHere Global Mental Health Movement shared how organizations can go beyond mental health messaging and truly cultivate an environment that champions a psychologically safe and supportive workplace for employees.
Deirdre and Eric helped attendees walk away with:
- A greater understanding of providing a safe mental health environment for employees
- Understanding the benefits which come from organizations that truly support mental health initiatives
- Strategies, tools and resources to build a psychologically safe and supportive workplace
In case you missed the conversation, you can rewatch it here
About Eric Kussin:
Eric is an in-demand public speaker on mental health ranging from media and professional sports teams/league offices to corporations and colleges/universities, including CNBC, On The Money, USATODAY, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, NBA, JP Morgan Chase, USC, Michigan, Cornell and more. Eric started his career in professional sports and never expected to become a mental health expert. He spent 18 years in the industry, including five years with the NBA League Office followed by many years of senior management positions with a number of professional sports teams, including the expansion Chicago Sky, Phoenix Suns and New Jersey Devils. By age 33, Eric was Chief Revenue Officer of the Florida Panthers.
Then, a debilitating mental health crisis stopped Eric’s career and life in its tracks for more than two and a half years. After many failed treatment modalities – including trying over 50 combinations of psychotropic drugs, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as well as Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT or “Shock Therapy”) – he was lucky enough to learn healing practices that enabled him to dig out of his abyss, and found a higher calling. In 2017, he launched The #SameHere Global Mental Health Movement, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to normalize society’s perception of mental health and make it part of our everyday conversation.
About Deirdre A. Lopian:
Deirdre is the Creative Director, of Deirdre Lopian Public Relations, LLC
She is an award-winning social media strategist, public relations and marketing professional. Her focus is helping brands leverage the power of inclusive marketing through storytelling that respectfully represents and amplifies diverse voices of underrepresented groups to effectively reach and engage diverse target audiences to show them they’re seen, heard, valued, and belong.
She has developed and executed memorable large-scale campaigns and events for iconic brands including: Live Nation, WWE, HBO Sports, UFC, Miss America Organization, Feld Entertainment, and the NHL.
She is currently the president of the Public Relations Society of America, New Jersey Chapter.
