• Mental Health Allies volunteer to serve as initial touch points for co-workers with questions

• ‘Some people feel more comfortable reaching out to a peer at first’

BY GUS MORGAN

Geologist Deserae Jennings knows that sometimes just having someone to talk to about a problem can make a world of difference.

Jennings is one of 22 Lower 48 employee volunteers who serve as Mental Health Allies in the Mental Health Allyship Program, a component of the newly launched Better Living in Lower 48 campaign.

What is a Mental Health Ally?

• Allies are co-workers who care about people.
• Allies can provide brief support through listening.
• Allies are not clinically trained or certified in mental health.
• Allies are aware resources exist for individuals experiencing difficult times and circumstances.
• Allies will direct co-workers to resources.
• Allies will be respectful and discrete with information shared by co-workers.

“I find it incredibly rewarding to be there for other people,” Jennings said. “I want to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and let my peers know that ConocoPhillips cares a lot about their mental health and well-being.”  

Supported by the company’s mental health experts, Allies like Jennings have received training to recognize when someone may be struggling or experiencing a decline in their mental well-being. While not professional counselors, Allies help 'get the conversation started.’

Mental Health Allies undergo a minimum of eight hours of in-person training and monthly support network engagements. 

Allies selected for the program are chosen because of their strong interpersonal skills and ability to listen with empathy. They function as a first point of contact, directing colleagues to internal resources, like the company’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), or outside resources in their area.

“Some people feel more comfortable reaching out to a peer at first; the Ally program gives them an avenue to do that,” said Jennings, who has helped several colleagues since the program’s inception this summer. “We know the resources available and can direct them to professional help.”

Lower 48 Learning Administrator Christy Pollard, who also volunteers as an Ally, said Allies can provide brief support through listening.

“I believe talking openly with someone we trust helps normalize things that might otherwise make us feel ashamed or embarrassed and could lead to isolation,” Pollard said. “I feel privileged to work for a company that realizes this need and is willing to put programs in place to address it.”

According to Delaware Basin Human Resources Director Kate Hoback, within the first week of launching the Mental Health Allyship Program, employees engaged Allies in at least three locations and were referred to available services.

“Implementing robust programs like our Mental Health Allyship is one of the many ways we ensure employees have support and resources across our region,” she said. “We launched the program as part of Better Living in August after learning from other regions that have Peer Support or First Aider programs.”  

The Mental Health Allyship Program is a vital part of the larger Better Living in Lower 48 campaign, said Lower 48 Human Resources Manager Mary Ann Beninati. 

"Better Living has shown us that each of us comes to work with our own life experiences and burdens," she said. "With help from the Allies, this program has given our employees more accessible ways to process tragedy and feel supported as humans in our work environments. It has helped us continue to build an inclusive and diverse work environment that embraces our SPIRIT Values.”

Strengthening a culture of wellness

“A lot of times, mental health seems like a scary black box that no one wants to talk about,” said EAP Manager David Nix, a licensed professional counselor, master addiction counselor and certified employee assistance professional. “The Mental Health Allyship Program is another way we are working to strengthen our culture of wellness.”

One in four people will have a mental health condition at some point in their life, Nix said.

“ConocoPhillips has the right resources in place to address mental health situations, quickly and appropriately,” he said. “We are focused on caring for our people and giving them the opportunity to be successful.”

Employee Assistance Program

EAP is ​a confidential and free counseling service, available 24/7, that connects employees and their eligible dependents to professionals who can help them tackle a variety of issues, including:

• Relationship, parenting and family issues
• Depression and anxiety
• Work problems
• Coping with illness
• Grief and loss
• Addiction and recovery
• Situational and life stressors