Wildflowers Don’t Care Where They Grow

As I drove over the Grapevine on the last long stretch of the drive to my very first Mental Health First Aid Summit, memories started rushing in of the years I spent driving back and forth from the Bay Area to Los Angeles. I went to college near downtown Los Angeles, where the summit was being held, and then worked in Santa Monica after graduating, so I would often drive the six hours up and down “the 5” during the holidays or school breaks. As I climbed up the hill, maneuvering the many twists and turns, memories from the past came rushing in - some good and some not so good (working in the film business can do that to you).

Bringing myself back to the present, I let the memories flow through me as I soaked in the beauty of the bright green hills and the orange and purple wildflowers after months of winter rain. My life had taken so many twists and turns but as I continued to snake through those hills, the City of Angels not far from sight, a sense of peace suddenly came over me. From many years spent working in the film business to almost two decades in tech to now driving to a mental health conference in the city that I once called home, I felt I was exactly where I was meant to be.

After three years of teaching together virtually, my partner Kandy and I were finally getting the chance to meet in person at the Mental Health First Aid Summit. While we had met virtually in online instructor training, a pandemic kept us from meeting in person (Kandy lives in Arizona and I am in Northern California). The conference was also going to be a great opportunity to meet other mental health educators who were equally as passionate about teaching Mental Health First Aid.

The Summit did not disappoint and meeting Kandy in person was even better than I thought it would be. Together, we met instructors from all over the country, who teach everywhere from schools to prisons, in big cities to some of the most rural areas in the country. We learned from inspiring speakers (one of our favorite takeaways was “Self-care is a lifestyle, not an event.”) and even had a chance to meet with some of the National Council of Mental Wellbeing leadership. It was a truly inspiring day and reminded me of why I chose to leave the corporate world behind to focus on mental health education and awareness.

In the last few years, it has been encouraging to see many employers now offering mental health benefits, with some even having wellbeing departments, a big silver lining from lessons learned during the pandemic. Some employers even went the extra step and created Mental Health Employee Resource Groups (ERGS) which help to create a safe space for employees to support one another without fear of stigma or retaliation.

The summit only made me more of a believer that while ERGs are important, mental health education and awareness are critical components of a company’s wellbeing strategy. Having your team, or your entire company, certified in a course like Mental Health First Aid empowers and equips employees with the knowledge of how to help someone going through a mental health or substance use challenge. By following an easy-to-remember 5-step method, learners come away from this class more confident to have difficult conversations about mental health conditions and suicide. One impactful email that we received after teaching stated, “If it were not for this class, I do not know how I would have been able to support my daughter’s partner who was going through a mental health crisis. I was able to speak to him in a confident, nonjudgmental way and helped him find the support he needed. He is now getting treatment.”

We came back from Los Angeles even more inspired to continue our mission to bring mental health awareness to more companies and organizations throughout the country. Whether it is through our shorter Lunch and Learns - from burnout and resilience to manager mental health - or a full-day Mental Health First Aid certification class, we are here to support you.

As I drove back home to the Bay Area, I thought about how much has changed in my life in the last year since I started LDC Wellbeing. So many ups and downs, both growth and also some setbacks. As I enjoyed the last views of the colorful landscape before my long drive back down the barren highway, I thought of this quote: “Embrace the beauty of life at the margins. That’s where the bravest flowers grow wild and free.” - Clare Walker

Laura and Kandy hanging out with the MHFA mascot at the National Council of Mental Wellbeing Summit (Los Angeles, May 2023).