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Let’s Stop Dancing Around Mental Health Conversations ®

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Welcome!

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Our Story

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An Upstate South Carolina based non-profit organization with regional, national, and international reach.

Who Ends the stigma that surrounds those with mental health struggles through professionally led educational programs, integration of the performing and visual arts, and creation of Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environments

And Who Advocates for equitable funding including cutting-edge research in biomarkers for more targeted advancements toward novel curative therapies as we see with physical conditions.

Who We Are

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Walt’s Story

Walt, a gentle, loving soul whose life’s mission was to reduce suffering, died from treatment resistant anxiety and depression on Thursday, August 22, 2019, after 20-years of struggle. That next Saturday, my son, Will, had a vision, a vision to keep Walt’s life mission alive, to create an organization to reduce suffering so that humanity could move toward an increased understanding of mental health conditions. This was the Genesis of Walt’s Waltz. This creation stemmed from the need to address education, equity, and stigma. The name of our organization came from Walt’s love of music especially in ¾ time. Our officers and board members each have a unique understanding and closeness to this cause and an eagerness to spread the message of HOPE that Walt’s Waltz represents.

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Why It Matters

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Employed Physicians Independent Physicians Physicians ≤45 Years Old Physicians 46+ Years Old Female Physicians Male Physicians Inappropriate feelings of anger, tearfulness or anxiety 61% 47% 67% 49% 65% 53% Withdraw or isolate from family, friends and co-workers 49% 36% 54% 38% 51% 42% Feel hopeless or that you have no purpose 37% 29% 40% 31% 40% 32% Proportion of Physicians Who Have Ever Experienced the Following in the Last Year by Practice Type, Age and Gender A higher proportion of Hispanic physicians (56%) than white physicians (45%) and primary care physicians (50%) than specialty physicians (43%) withdrew or isolated from family, friends and coworkers.

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Impact of Overlooking Mental Health

2021: 68% of Millennials (50% in 2019) and 81% of Gen Zers (75% in 2019) have left roles for mental health reasons, both voluntarily and involuntarily, compared with 50% of respondents overall (34% in 2019) - Harvard Business Review
2021: 86% of employers said mental health, stress and burnout were still a priority. - Wellbeing Diagnostic Survey
2021: 3 in 5 employees are not receiving adequate support from supervisors to help manage the stress - Mental Health America
2021: 87% of employees think actions from their employer would help their mental health - US Department of Labor (Blog)

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Mental Health Conditions Cost to Businesses in the United States

1 in 5 Americans will have a Mental Health Condition sometime in their life. In 2018, 71% of adults reported at least 1 symptom of stress including feelings of being overwhelmed & anxiety.
Employees expect workplace assistance for Mental Health.
U.S. loses $219B annually related to lack of mental health support in the workplace.
Absenteeism - 11 lost workdays. Presenteeism - 57 lost workdays due to reduced productivity.
Non-action - human suffering

Impact of Overlooking Mental Health

Sources: cdc.gov, nih.gov, who.int, ceoroundtable.heart.org mentalhealthfirstaid.org

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Damages of not taking action

Impact of Overlooking Mental Health

People suffer in silence
Silence fuels shame–stigma continues to keep people from seeking help
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for those ages 10–34
Individuals experiencing depression are at a higher risk for developing other medical conditions (Diabetes, Stroke, Cardiovascular Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease)

Sources:

Kessler RC, Angermeyer M, Anthony JC, et al. Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of mental disorders in the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Survey Initiative. World Psychiatry. 2007;6(3):168-176

National Institute of Mental Health. Chronic Illness & Mental Health. Retrieved from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov

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Our Vision: Physical Health and Mental Health viewed through the same lens of compassion and fair-mindedness which contributes to the empowerment and care of all of humanity.

Our Mission: Walt’s Waltz is a Compass and a Megaphone for Mental Health Support, Education, and Change.

What We Stand For

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Education

The Waltz: 3-Step Approach

2. Equity

3. Stigma-Free

Education - We educate the community about mental health, so we can increase mental health literacy. Through education, we are able to promote awareness and create conversations surrounding mental health.
Equity - Through our education and awareness programs, we begin to build a community who views mental and physical health through the same lens. This creates demand to revolutionize how we approach mental health which includes the need for funding in the areas of genetics and epigenetics as seen in other illnesses and diseases.
Stigma-Free - Through education and the development of equity, we empower the community to have open discussions about mental health, by creating access to safe spaces that promote well-being.

“For instance, “we believe that the necessary first step is with education, through educating people about mental health they will begin to understand its complexities individually, in others, and in society, this creates equity. To suboptimize the action of equity, we also advocate for a mental health moonshot–partnered and acting as one of the founding members a colation “cure brain disease” we meet with stakeholders, appropriation committee members, and other relevant social actors to advocate for increased funding in mental health research. Lastly, now that we have educated ourselves and others, identified areas of inequity and then taking steps to produce equity, we are now able to create a stigma-free society.” We start with Education - In school, most have had courses like PE, Heath, and biology, but most of us have not been educated about mental health conditions We believe we must start with education as https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-11-29/give-health-care-workers-the-mental-health-support-they-deserve

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Mental Health Literacy is the necessary first step in breaking down stigma surrounding mental health conditions.

Take Your Mental Health Temperature initiative encourages taking a

screening to check in on the level/severity of your anxiety, depression

and/or other mental health condition.

Arts Integration includes the integration of the visual and performing arts into our programs as a wellness strategy and a medium to open-up conversations.

Walt’s Waltz Initiatives

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Mental Health Moonshot initiative advocates for robust funding for early diagnosis of mental health conditions with a goal towards novel curative therapies. This research has been drastically underfunded and requires a moonshot.

Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environments empower the establishment of safe spaces for open communication in the workplace, educational institutions, military, social settings; truly everywhere.

Walt’s Waltz Initiatives

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Purpose - Stigma-Free Environments aim to change social environments by increasing awareness and reducing the misconceptions surrounding mental health conditions. Healthier spaces are then created from the inside out.

Creates equity within our community *
Create stronger and happier communities and workspaces
Educates, increases awareness and provides safety
Develops a culture of understanding, compassion, and empathy
Promotes holistic wellness
Allow individuals living with a mental health condition to feel supported

What is a Stigma-Free Environment?

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Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environments empower educational institutions, businesses, municipalities, and nonprofits to provide an empathetic culture of support for those with a mental health condition.

Believe that mental health conditions require the same medical care and support as physical conditions
Create stronger and happier communities and workspaces
Raise awareness of the prevalence of mental health conditions in our community
Increase public interest in learning what is “Stigma-Free”
Allow individuals living with a mental health condition to feel supported
Connect individuals in need to local mental health resources

Stigma-Free Environments EMPOWER

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Our Stigma-Free Environments

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Our Stigma-Free Environments

https://youtu.be/EAeD7MjrKXA

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People need to feel safe to reach out for help

Lack of mental health support and stress can have a negative impact on employee

Job performance and productivity
Engagement with one’s work
Communication with coworkers
Physical capability and daily functioning

Workplace Needs to Be Stigma-Free

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Communication structures are already in place.
Programs and policies come from one central team.
Social support networks are available.
Contributes to an empathetic culture of

support within the organization

Promotes healthier physical, mental,

and social environments

Why the Workplace Though?

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Medscape Physician Burnout and Depression: Stress, Anxiety, and Anger 2022

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The act of becoming a Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environment makes a BOLD Statement to your employees, community, and patrons that this is a safe and benevolent place; that they can be themselves and will be supported.

The Broader Benefit of Creating a Stigma-Free Environment

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For the Workplace, WHO Recommends:

Manager training for mental health

Helps managers recognize and respond to supervisees experiencing emotional distress, builds interpersonal skills, and fosters better understanding of how stressors affect mental health and can be managed.

Training for workers in mental health literacy and awareness

Improves knowledge of mental health and reduces stigma against mental health conditions at work

Sources: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work

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U.S. Surgeon General

“The mental health crisis is the biggest concern facing the country because it impacts so many people and different facets of life.”

~ Dr. Vivek Murthy

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Elect two Stigma-Free Ambassadors for each SFE site - Ambassadors will become certified in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
View Mental Health and Physical Health through the same lens of compassion and fair-mindedness
Challenge stigmatizing attitudes and language surrounding mental health conditions
Be an active advocate of Mental Health Literacy
Inspire public interest and open dialogues that advance the Stigma-Free Environment’s mission

How the Workplace Can Create a

Stigma-Free Environment

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What You’re Already Doing

Well Done!

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How We Will Support the Workplace’s Stigma-Free Environment

Hosting and promoting mental health educational opportunities for Stigma-Free Environment and community served
Celebrating the SFE’s commitment to be Stigma-Free through media postings and press releases, and promoting the establishment on our website
Producing materials that support the Stigma-Free Environment
Supporting Ambassadors in their leadership role
Communicating upcoming mental health educational presentations, workshops, training, and community events.

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What We Can Specifically Do For You

Emotional pull to faculty to get trained in MHFA classes
Events on Campus

Art exhibit/Music/Film Series - https://youtu.be/eLfJt2iEI0c
Mental Health Moonshot - Involve the Genetics Department
Booth during Suicide Awareness Month and Octorber 10 Mental Health Awareness month
Work with student organizations for an awareness day
Butterfly decals - safe spaces
Post our Self-Care Tips in restrooms and the Take your mental health temp around campus
Painting Mental Health Workshops - People come to these -
1 hour lunch and learn
Mental Health First Aid Certification

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Our hand is outstretched.

Will you join our dance?

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