#LifeAtHireRight: Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month
May is mental health awareness month. We talked to Jessi and Nichole, leaders of our Mental Harmony employee-led affinity group, about how the group started and what they are doing this to help raise awareness here at HireRight.
Here at HireRight, our teams work hard to build the future of screening services while striving to put our customers first. Internally, we rally around a culture committed to collaboration, a service-first mindset, a sense of ownership, and other corporate values to help employers get it right – every time, everywhere. But what is it like to work here? And who are the employees behind our background screening and workforce solutions?
Today, we are talking to Jessi Reedy and Nichole Blight, co-leaders of our employee-led Mental Harmony affinity group. The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Jessi and Nichole share with us the roots of the month of awareness, what our Mental Harmony affinity group is doing during this time, as well as a little bit more about themselves too!
Firstly, let’s get to know you both a little better! How long have you each worked at HireRight and what are your roles?
Jessi: I’ve been with the company for six years this August. I work as a Verifications Researcher II, which means I verify education and employment history on incoming background screening reports.
Nichole: I've been with Hireright for a little over a year now. I’m a Data Governance Analyst working on maintaining the quality of HireRight’s data.
What was it like to join the team, and what do you love most about your job?
Jessi: It was a new and exciting experience, very different from what I used to do, and in a completely different industry. I love how tight my team is and how everyone loves to come together to help each other.
Nichole: Joining the team was a great experience; I felt very welcomed and supported in ramping up in my position. What I love most is the flexibility the company offers and being given the opportunity to do something I really enjoy every day.
So, we’re here today to talk about Mental Health Awareness Month. How did it first get started?
Nichole: May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States since 1949. It was founded by the Mental Health America organization (previously known as the National Association for Mental Health) to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illness, including conditions like depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Mental Health Awareness Month aims to raise the visibility of the potential trauma and societal impact that mental illness can have on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children, families, and communities as a whole.
Can you tell us a little about Mental Harmony, HireRight’s mental health awareness group?
Nichole: Mental Harmony was established in October 2021. Mental health awareness has always been a passion of ours, as many people do not understand the impact mental health issues can have.
Jessi: I wanted to start a group and create a safe space for employees to learn about these topics, ask questions, and share their experiences with like-minded individuals without worrying about feeling awkward or out of place.
Mental Harmony is open to all HireRight team members and focuses on breaking the stigma around mental health issues. Our mission is to bring mental health awareness to our workforce and continue supporting a healthy work environment by providing helpful tools to utilize daily.
The goals for our group are to:
Create a safe space for education and discussion
Give tips and tricks on dealing with mental health issues
Share healthy practices
Give encouragement and support to peers, and
Provide daily positivity.
What is the group doing for Mental Health Awareness month?
Nichole: Throughout May, we are doing something each week to bring focus and awareness to mental health – for example, we’re hosting some virtual discussions on topics such as breaking the stigma around men’s mental health. We are also trying to have more fun and drive employee engagement by having games like a virtual escape room based on knowledge about mental health.
How do you feel that the Mental Health affinity group is making a difference here at HireRight?
Nichole: Based on what group members have told us, having a daily positive voice has become something they look forward to reading each day on our internal chat channel.
Jessi: Our members have a place to open up more and have a safe space to talk and learn. Members have shared experiences, struggles, and have come together to support each other in times of change, personally and professionally.
We are thankful to be able to work somewhere like HireRight, a company that supports us in our efforts to bring mental health awareness to employees around the globe. We’ve had help from multiple teams – from Marketing and HR to HireRight’s ‘Pride’ employee affinity group, who helped launch Mental Harmony’s very first meeting and have been mentors to Mental Harmony’s leaders in ways to improve the group as we continue to grow.
What do you hope to see in the future for the Mental Health Awareness group?
Jessi: Growth! We are really focusing on reaching out to more employees across HireRight, with the hope that we can get people more involved in the group and maybe even one day get the opportunity to expand Mental Health training for HireRight team members.
Be part of a diverse, global team dedicated to helping the world’s greatest companies – including some of your most loved brands – hire their talent with confidence.
At HireRight, our team members are innovating together to build the future of screening services and personal data. Experiencing #LifeatHireRight means working with great people on inspiring ideas to help employers get it right – every time, everywhere. Check out our opportunities across the globe at HireRight Careers today!
Release Date: May 1, 2023
HireRight
HireRight is a leading provider of on-demand employment background checks, drug and health screening, and electronic Form I-9 and E-Verify solutions that help employers automate, manage and control background screening and related programs.