Overview

Health and wellness might not be principles that you  associate with ATB, but they're a huge part of our corporate culture and identity. Physical, mental, social and financial health are areas we believe are important and deserve our focus as an organization. 

Karen Gallagher-Burt, director of philanthropy and stewardship at the Canadian Mental Health Association and Kerilee Snatenchuk, director of people & culture at ATB, share their thoughts on mental wellness and resiliency, including tools and resources that can help support you and those around you.

In 2021, how do we focus on optimism and hope? What can we do, both collectively and individually, to build resiliency and take action around mental health? Gallagher-Burt shares eight strategies that can help:

1. Focus on the moment to give people the opportunity to stay in the present. You can tell yourself, ‘Today I’m OK. I’m getting things done and I’m feeling connected.’  
   “The best thing I can do for my mental health is to have a plan for each day. Where am I going to fit in that moment of wellness?” Think of it as mental health hygiene, just like getting up in the morning and brushing your teeth. Create flexible routines and rituals to support your mental well-being, and remember to cut yourself some slack if you don’t always meet your targets.
2. Consider your capacity to empathize with people. Gallagher-Burt stops briefly to take a deep breath and check in with how she’s feeling, before she interacts with others.
3. Watch out for virtual meeting fatigue. Consider blocking off times in your day for thinking and research. 
4. Practice good self-care habits. Are you exercising, sleeping and eating well? Beyond that, what else needs your attention?
5. Find a neutral, trusted person to talk to. There are a variety of resources available, including CMHA offices throughout Alberta and 211 Alberta, a free, confidential service that provides information and referral to a wide range of community, social, health and government services. 
6. Prioritize anything that gives you calm or rejuvenates you. Find what your jam is. 
7. Consider setting boundaries between your work and personal life. “When I finish my day, I walk out of the room, leave my laptop behind, and shut down my social media,” says Gallagher-Burt.
8. Find a sense of connection, hope and belonging. According to a survey completed by the Health Quality Council of Alberta, seventy-two percent of Albertans reported experiencing stress, anxiety, or depression during the pandemic. Fifty percent identified their top challenges including, maintaining relationships. When addressing mental health concerns like this there are three foundational factors that contribute to staying well says Gallagher-Burt, “It’s about having a sense of connection, hope and belonging. And that's something that not everybody has that we need to pay attention to.”

An innovation opportunity

Despite all the challenges of these times, “I think there is an innovation opportunity,” Gallagher-Burt says. “A lot of good could come out of it if we seize the opportunity to re-evaluate and make modifications to our lives.” 

Snatenchuk adds, “Seeing the resilience of people—that abundance and openness to trying new things—has given me a lot of hope. It’s been great to see people exploring new and different ways to find joy.”

Need support?

If you would like to access additional resources and information on the Canadian Mental Health Association, please visit their website. If you need help, please call 211 (Alberta only) or the Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642. For more information on supporting workplace mental health, check out CMHA’s article “Prioritizing Workplace Mental Health”.