The Elephant in Your Office Has a Mental Illness | Ashley Sides Johnson | TEDxEvansville

Is there an elephant in your office? Ashley Sides Johnson uses this simple metaphor to explain the complexities of mental illness in the workplace. Drawing from content from her recently published book, “There’s an Elephant in Your Office,” she explains the mental health continuum as well as various mental health workplace situations and how employers can handle them effectively for the benefit of both the employee and the organization. Following years of dance recitals, band concerts, and theater performances, Ashley feels at home on a stage. She’s equally as comfortable behind a computer screen transforming complex topics into understandable stories and instructions. Her recently published book, There’s an Elephant in Your Office, does just that by using a simple metaphor to explain the complexities of mental illness in the workplace. She also writes about parenting and mental health on her blog, ASJexplains.

[cassandrahill]

Mental illness is a taboo topic that needs more attention. Thank you Ashley for your courage to share your story.

[r.a.w.realasswoman]

Ashley is absolutely a GEM. I enjoy working with her and love her total disposition! Love her

[rhythmguy]

I am the organizational wellness manager for a large state government agency. We’ve been addressing mental health in the workplace for a number of years. This is a TED Talk we will most definitely add to our collection of resources. Currently considering developing a employer-based mental health management system approach as proposed by James Fairview in his book, “How To Become A Mental Health Leader Within The Workplace.”

[stevethomas]

What a fantastic talk! Thankfully my former workplace as of this week definitely fall into the positive camp. The support and empathy shown by practically everyone there in my case (especially my line managers) was excellent.

[evmendes]

Thank you for such informative/eye opening presentation in a manner that is accessible and relatable to everyone.

[christianhakinfe]

Am a year 2 student studying public health at Coventry University in UK and i find this presentation very useful and interesting.

[erinb]

I had a mental health crisis at work years ago before I was diagnosed with a serious mental disorder, they didn't send me home despite crying every 5 minutes, instead they made me KEEP working, and I even had to go on a delivery. There were no policies and practices in place to deal with this, you'd think someone would have the common sense to just...send me home? But no, and it was traumatic looking back on it.

[JoyfulLivingWithLisa]

This video will be making an appearance at an upcoming managers' meeting in my organization. Thank you!

[jennmiska]

This was a fantastic video and a much needed-to-talk-about topic! Thank you!

[philippal]

I’m going to share this with my next manager.

[CCGROUNDZERO]

There are two elephants in her office...

[allbis]

I know that maybe tomorrow is my last day at work. Kinda sad but im ready to go.

[bellhula]

interesting presentation, terms used are uncommon.

[toxiclaw]

if you keep calling them an elephant Im sure theyll have a mental illness haha

[jcr-studios]

The term Mental Illness has too much of a stigma and is too broad of a term.