On this years World Mental Health Day, we delved into the theme of 'workplace mental health'. Crustacean Compassion's CEO, Dr Ben Sturgeon shares his thoughts on the support offered and shown to his team, and how we show compassion to animals and people alike.
I was flattered today for a member of the team to say “you always think of us”. It was very kind but also upset me. Only because it reminded me of the many people who, but for a few simple words of encouragement or actions of care, would have simply had a chance.
Anyone reading this is likely to have had a mental ‘issue’ or will probably have one. The reasons are multivarious. Without shoehorning into the conversation my obvious bias towards decapod crustaceans, I find it fascinating as a veterinary surgeon, that stress has been shown to change the neurochemistry of lobsters. In displays of dominance and fighting (often over territory) the winners’ levels of serotonin increase in comparison to octopamine. In the loser, the opposite. The drugs prescribed to people with depression are serotonin uptake inhibitors – effectively increasing the amount of serotonin floating around the body.
Constant challenges in animal welfare work
The area my team and I work in is difficult. By definition we are a small team because funding is scarce, but by definition the issues we try to tackle are hard; often emotive and require addressing alternate views. This means that you are challenged constantly – is what you are doing ‘right’? Have you done enough? Could you have done more? All questions a losing lobster probably makes.
We are routinely knocked back, blinded by filibuster, drowned in a mire of contradiction. So, I tell them – “go for a walk”, “square your shoulders”, in the words of Bruce Springsteen “walk tall, or (baby), don’t walk at all”.
We all need to do this occasionally. Take that mental time out. But it is not just to take a break and empty your mind. That is not the aim. The intent is to re-evaluate. To look at the purpose you are living. The meaning or value you are giving to yourself.
And this is where I believe we in a small organisation, in a sea of giants and corporates, have strength. We are not pretending to be something we are not; we are taking responsibility for our actions; we are not virtue signalling or carrying out ideological attacks but looking for balance based on what we now know.
In my own search for a healthy mind, it so often returns to this – 'why'? Why do I, or we, do what we do? Why do I, or we, exist? In other words – do I follow a life that includes meaning? Do I accept that when we look for something meaningful, we must also assume responsibility?
That is what I ask my team to do – take responsibility. This may mean challenge but it is a challenge each can accept as worthy – a meaningful way to find strength in the mental fight.
World Mental Health Day serves as a crucial reminder of the need to care for our mental well-being, as well as the well-being of others—including animals. By fostering a more compassionate world, we not only improve the welfare of vulnerable creatures but also create a society where humans thrive mentally and emotionally. Let this day serve as a reminder that caring for both ourselves and others is key to building a healthier, more empathetic future.