2-Minute Mind Check

Depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. 16 million people suffer from depression and it causes over 44,000 suicides every year. Additionally, less than 50% of people who suffer get help. These numbers are staggering. Yet, depression is still stigmatized in the heart of one of the wealthiest areas in the world, the San Francisco Bay Area. The culture in this region very often prioritizes productivity over self-care, and any sign of not running at 100 percent is perceived as weakness. An atmosphere where we cannot talk about depression publicly is toxic. The good news is that we can change that! The ADAA (American Depression and Anxiety Association), NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness-San Francisco), WeWork and Meru Health, among other organizations, individuals and companies, have joined together to break this stigma, educate, discuss and provide helpful tools for people who needlessly suffer. We have joined together to help change the root cause of this problem -- the archaic and toxic underlying culture that prevents people from talking about their challenges and receiving help. We want to help change the outdated attitudes toward depression and create a culture where people can talk about their challenges openly and not be ashamed to look for help. Through the 2-Minute Mind-Check, we seek to empower and encourage people to identify their level of depression, discuss openly - in a safe community - about the impacts depression has had on their lives, and provide them access to free tools and resources to help them heal. In a region that celebrates innovation, we invite leaders, educators, technology (or knowledge) workers and the VC community to join together to help break this stigma, and face the challenge of depression! Together, we can change and save the lives of our friends, families and co-workers who deserve our kindness, creativity and compassion!