I once interviewed a candidate, and somewhere during our conversation, the subject of depression came up.
He told me there was a time when he felt completely lost. Something many of us can relate to.
What surprised me most was… he looked so chirpy and confident that if he hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known.
That was when he shared that a friend encouraged him to seek help, and he did. With time, support, and a psychiatrist, he got better.
I commended him for being so brave. Not just in sharing his story, but also in taking the steps to heal. He didn’t let his depression stand in the way of his success..
I offered him the job on the spot.
Mental illness should never have been a taboo subject. Today, there is help. There is support. And it is very much manageable.
Sometimes, the people who always look okay on the outside are the ones fighting battles silently inside.
We should normalise conversations around mental health. Let’s make space for open, safe conversations for people to say, “I’m not okay,” without fear.
xoxoxo, AuntyHR
P.S. And yes, he turned out to be a good hire! He learned fast, adapted well, and most importantly, he got the job done. 🫶
