blog 2023 2 min read
Meet Mental Health Buddy, Seán Keane
disguise has a mental health buddy programme where any team member can volunteer to lend a helping hand to someone who needs support with their mental health - signposting them to professionals as and when needed. For World Mental Health Day we sat down with our Product Design Manager Seán Keane to learn how his journey as a mental health buddy has gone so far.
Why did you become a mental health buddy?
It all started during Covid, when I wanted to help people find a place where they can be open. I am highly interested in the different aspects of health and how physical fitness can aid mental health. This was the main push during Covid where I completed and set daily/weekly workout challenges for others.
How was the training process?
I learnt that it is sometimes more valuable to let another person open up and feel comfortable rather than focusing on my own opinions.
What have you learnt so far while doing this?
Just being willing to sit and listen is a massive help to so many people.
What does mental health mean to you?
For me, it’s the acceptance that stress is something that occurs naturally. It's giving people tools to be better prepared when dealing with pressure.
How can we all help protect our own and others’ mental health?
Removing judgement as it is the main barrier for so many.
What are the benefits to becoming a mental health buddy?
Opening yourself up to the different worries that people can face and how people react in different ways. No two stresses are dealt with the same and this provides an understanding of how best to aid colleagues or people within your team as a manager.
This year's theme is around ’anxiety’. What would you say to someone who is struggling with anxiety?
I would ask them how it makes them feel. Do they understand the triggers or the emotions that are attached? A better understanding of yourself allows us to better understand what is happening. Having this consistent feedback between the body or mind helps us tackle the root cause as well as the symptoms themselves. Pushing a certain ‘fix’ isn’t possible as everyone has individual experiences.
