Tag: Mental Health

Meditation, Mindfulness, and Ukulele: Niall Breslin’s Podcast Brings Meaning to Life Through Music

July 27, 2020

There’s a myriad of ways to take care of your mental health, whether that’s listening to a favorite band, getting outside, or taking time out every day to meditate. But with so much going on, sometimes a calm voice or gentle push is what you need to get started. 

Let podcast host Niall Breslin be your guide. In June, the musician ,mindfulness expert, and mental health advocate started recording the award-winning 52-episode series Where Is My Mind? to examine different coping skills for the challenging world we live in. Winner of the Creativity award at this year’s British Podcast Awards, Where Is My Mind? listeners can learn how to get off autopilot, navigate constant distraction, and explore what brings meaning to their lives.

Where Is My Mind? acknowledges how people have been feeling over the past few months of social distancing and works to address these emotions in informative and enlightening ways. Early episodes of the podcast detail the basics of meditation, mindfulness, and communication; the second season has progressed to cover topics like using nature, comedy, and exercise to help improve our well-being.

The role of music in mental health has always been near and dear to Niall’s heart. To bring this to life, as well as to give listeners the tools they need to create music of their own, he bought 400 ukuleles and gifted them to individuals currently addressing their own mental health.

Upon receiving their ukuleles, the budding musicians set off to hone their new skill. Specifically, they worked hard to learn the song “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. After a few weeks of practice, the ukulele players came together—albeit at a distance—for a chance to record themselves on a brand-new track and special music video set to coincide with a Where Is My Mind? episode on the topic of music and mental health.

The recording features 400 budding Irish ukulele players; professional musicians; choir singers; Niall’s band, The Blizzards; and some special Irish guest artists. Embrace the healing power of music by checking out the exclusive music video above and tuning into the new single, only on Spotify.

Looking for more mental health resources? Stream the latest episode of Where Is My Mind? below. Or, head to Irish Mental Health Charity A Lust for Life. 

Spotify Recognizes Workplace Well-Being on World Mental Health Day

October 10, 2019

More and more, people are speaking out about mental health—reminding each other that “it’s okay not to be okay.” At Spotify, we know it’s time to move past words and take action. That’s why this World Mental Health Day, we’re inviting our entire organization to stop, take a breather, and learn more about mental health.

“Mental health issues like depression and anxiety are increasing in society,” explains Katarina Berg, Chief Human Resources Officer at Spotify. “They have been for years now, and there is nothing to indicate that this increase will stop. It affects how we can grow as humans and perform at work. So we want to do whatever we can to support and boost mental health among our employees and in society.”

The Day is in keeping with Heart & Soul, our strategy and plan for mental health and emotional wellbeing. It’s aimed at raising awareness, building knowledge, and removing the stigma around mental health. We provide proactive self-care and professional treatment for all employees, and have a community of autonomous Heart & Soul ambassadors who drive local initiatives. This October 10, on World Mental Health Day, employees will learn about and discuss emotional well-being and mental health in local events at our offices all over the world.

It’s important to address these issues head-on in the workplace, since most people spend 35% of their waking time at work. Our environment therefore plays a huge role in our psychological health—if we’re not okay in life, we’re likely not to be okay at work.

“We don’t want our employees to hide behind a happy face at work—we want them to show up at work feeling that they can tell their manager and colleagues that they are not well, and get the support they need,” says Katarina. “Many suffer in silence and we don’t want that for the Spotify team, or anyone else.”

Read more about Heart & Soul, and about how we work to create a climate where it is safe to raise questions about mental health on the Spotify HR Blog.

Supporting the ‘Heart & Soul’ of Spotify

October 15, 2018

October marks Mental Health Awareness Month. At Spotify, we know it’s important not only to recognize this day, but to commit to the emotional health of our employees throughout the year. Mental health issues or addiction affect most of us at some point in life, either directly or through someone we love—sometimes even through the music and personal stories of our favorite artists.

Our goal at Spotify is to foster a culture of awareness, acceptance, sensitivity, and support around issues such as depression, anxiety, and addiction—a culture where we can all embrace our identities, look after ourselves and each other, thrive, and be our best.

Earlier this year, we launched Heart & Soul, a mental health initiative, to provide the best possible support for our employees and to promote deep knowledge about emotional well-being among all at Spotify.

It’s important to focus on mental health in all aspects of our lives—and even more so in the workplace. We spend 35 percent of our waking hours at work. That means the environment we work in matters to our emotional well-being. And if we’re dealing with mental health issues in our everyday lives, they follow us to the office.

While we can’t diagnose mental illness or recommend specific treatment options, a company like ours can take the initiative in building knowledge and reducing stigmas, creating a culture of acceptance, and encouraging better understanding of conditions, symptoms, and warning signs. We can also make sure our employees are trained in tools that support self-care.

Our Heart & Soul support network starts with our employees. We provide a wide range of training on subjects like inclusion, unconscious bias, and warning signs for substance abuse and how to support someone who suffers from it. We not only want to erase the stigma surrounding mental health, but wish to enable people to recognize when someone is in need and how to offer tools and treatment—whether that’s through the self-care activities that we offer or by seeking professional help.

Leading the way are our Heart & Soul ambassadors, employees from all over the organization who work to engage others and help all employees feel included in our wellness vision. Ambassadors promote emotional fitness, drive awareness, and build community while providing us with a ground-level perspective that will help our initiative grow and improve. They also lead the way in assembling our self-care database, a resource our employees can access whenever they need it.

Every day we pave our way in music, culture, and technology—and we want to do the same for the health of our employees. That means fostering a holistic environment that erases stigma and promotes understanding so we can each bring our whole selves to work. Wellness is key for all of us to thrive in the long term, and it is our duty to help everyone feel supported.