Coronavirus and the Workplace

In response to the coronavirus pandemic and the mitigation efforts put in place, workplaces of all sizes were forced to adapt and leaders were faced with difficult decisions. Whether employees are working remotely or still going into the workplace, they are dealing with a lot of changes and uncertainty which can lead to stress and anxiety. NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania is compiling resources for executives so they can help guide their employees during these unprecedented times.

COVID-19: Mental Health and Well-Being by the Center for Workplace Mental Health

Ready Pittsburgh Toolkit by the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance

6 Leadership Tips for the COVID-19 Crisis by PRSA

Pittsburgh Region Response to COVID-19 by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development

Working Remotely During COVID-19 Guide by the Center for Workplace Mental Health

Working from Home: Managing Your Mental Health by NAMI

Videos and Webinars

January 2022: Coffee Chat with Russell Livingston

CEOs Against Stigma Program Ambassador Christie Cawley sat down with Russell Livingston, President and CEO of Babb, Inc., to talk about elevating mental health in the workplace. Mr. Livingston was one of the first CEOs to sign on to the program, and in this conversation, they discuss why executives may be hesitant when it comes to talking about mental health and how implementing a process is an important first step.

June 2021: Is It Stress Or Anxiety?

The pandemic has made many employees more aware of the stressors in their life. While some stress is normal, too much can lead to anxiety, which can sometimes become a serious mental health condition. In this webinar, learn how to recognize the symptoms of stress and anxiety, and the impact they’re having on people at work and at home.

Featuring: NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania CEO Christine Michaels and CEOs Against Stigma Program Ambassador Christie Cawley

Watch the Webinar (Access Passcode: 2dC2@%yX)
View the Slides
Supplemental Links

May 2021: Working From Home or Always Working?

Since the pandemic hit, work-from-home employees have been putting in longer hours, and it’s taking a toll. Learn more about the impact this is having on employee mental health – and productivity – and how employers can better support a work/life balance.

Featuring: NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania CEO Christine Michaels and CEOs Against Stigma Program Ambassador Christie Cawley

Watch the Webinar (Access Passcode: h1pYjQ^%)
View the Slides
Supplemental Links

Making Headlines

Mayor Gainey Signs the Pledge

On May 25, 2022, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey signed the CEOs Against Stigma Pledge as part of Mental Health Awareness Month. The ceremony was held in the City-County Building in Pittsburgh. Mayor Gainey was joined by NAMI Keystone PA CEO Christine Michaels; Joni Schwager, Executive Director of the Staunton Farm Foundation; as well as members of the Mayor’s staff and other mental health advocates. The Staunton Farm Foundation is providing funding for the program.

Our Region’s Business

In June 2019, the CEOs Against Stigma initiative was featured on Our Region’s Business with Bill Flanagan. NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania CEO Christine Michaels appeared on the show with Bill Schlagel from Ernst & Young, a company with a robust employee wellness program. The program aired on June 23, 2019, at 11 a.m. on WPXI-TV.

Kickoff Breakfast

In recognition of Mental Health Month in May, NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania officially launched the CEOs Against Stigma project with a kickoff breakfast at the Duquesne Club in downtown Pittsburgh on May 7, 2019. CEOs and other executives from nearly 40 companies attended.

News Releases

October 19, 2021: NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania and Reed Smith Announce CEOs Against Stigma Partnership
March 27, 2019: NAMI Keystone PA Partners with PRSA Pittsburgh for CEOs Against Stigma Campaign

In the News

May 17, 2019: WESA-FM radio host Kevin Gavin interviews NAMI Keystone PA CEO Christine Michaels and Joni Schwager, Exec. Dir. of the Staunton Farm Foundation, on addressing mental health in the workplace. (21:30 – 33:37)

Workplace Mental Health Articles, Blogs, and More

–Feb. 10, 2022: 4 in 10 Workers Report Decline in Mental Health, Delay in Health Care
–Feb. 3, 2022: Mental Health & Middle Management: How to Support Employees Without Overstepping
–June 23, 2021: 3 Simple Leadership Actions to Help Stressed-Out Employees
–May 22, 2021: How To Cultivate, Sustain And Discuss Mental Health In The Workplace
–May 7, 2021: Mental Health Awareness Month’s Timely Arrival

Additional Articles

–Apr. 3, 2021: We Have All Hit A Wall: Confronting Late-Stage Pandemic Burnout, With Everything From Edibles To Exodus
–Mar. 25, 2021: Nine Signs A Remote Employee Is Struggling With Stress Or Anxiety
—Dec. 23, 2019: We Need More Workplace Leaders Talking About Their Own Mental Health: Celebrity Stories Aren’t Enough
—Oct. 15, 2019: 62% of Employees Want Leadership To Speak Openly About Mental Health
—Sept. 20, 2019: Employer Kindness Can Improve Performance and Mental Health
—Sept. 20, 2019: How to Improve Mental Health at Your Workplace
—Sept. 10, 2019: The Questions Every Leader Should Be Asking About Suicide Prevention and Mental Wellness
—May 7, 2019: Connecting Employee Engagement and Mental Health at the Workplace
—May 1, 2019: Walgreens wants its pharmacists trained for mental health crises
—Feb. 13, 2019: Millennial Mental Health In The Workplace
—Nov. 1, 2018: We Need to Talk More About Mental Health at Work
—Sept. 27, 2018: Anxiety is expensive: Employee mental health costs rise twice as fast as all other medical expenses

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries about the CEOs Against Stigma program, contact Maria Kakay, Director of Communications and Marketing at NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania, by email at mkakay@namikeystonepa.org or by phone at 412-366-3788.

If you are interested in becoming a CEO Against Stigma, request more information.