Dr. Sola Togun-Butler is the Founder, CEO, & Psychotherapist at Butterfly Counseling Services. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor and Associate Chairperson in the Human Services Department at St. Joseph’s University in Brooklyn, New York. She established Butterfly Counseling Services to make mental health services accessible and affordable for a diverse client population and to challenge the stigma associated with receiving mental health services by humanizing mental health. She is an award-winning professional speaker, highlighting the importance of mental health and wellness while offering solutions to minimize stress, prevent burnout, and achieve balance for industry conferences, colleges/universities, agencies, and corporations. Dr. Sola has been interviewed by NBC News New York and Spectrum News NY1 on her areas of expertise.
We are delighted to announce that Dr Sola will be speaking in Riyadh this February as part of our Wellbeing at Work Summit Middle East. We caught up with her to find out how she’s feeling in the run up to the summit.
Hi Sola, we are thrilled you will be speaking at our Wellbeing at Work Summit Middle East in February. Our first and most important question is, how are you doing today?
I am doing very well. As a Psychotherapist, I often highlight the importance of self-care to my clients. Therefore, taking care of myself as well is a priority for me. Traveling is a part of my self-care routine. I
am at the tail end of a trip to Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, & Slovenia. Doing what I love makes me so happy and allows me to reset so I can be fully present for myself, my clients, friends, and family.
As a leader based in the region, what are the main challenges you are facing when it comes to employee wellbeing and mental health?
The main challenge is the stigma associated with receiving mental health services. It is because of this stigma that people are often reluctant to come forward if they are struggling with mental health issues, and they end up struggling in isolation. Clients have frequently expressed to me that it is easier to tell others that they are struggling with physical symptoms than to state that they are struggling with their mental health. They are often afraid of being judged, ostracized, or losing their job if they admit mental health issues.
What strategies have you seen developing over the past 6 months, both internally and externally, that are moving the dial on wellbeing in the workplace?
To destigmatize mental health, we need to talk more openly about mental health and wellness. I strongly believe in humanizing mental health. Humanizing mental health means that we realize that all of us will struggle with mental health issues, so when we talk openly about mental health, people realize that they are not alone in what they are going through. We are creating a safe environment for them to talk about their challenges.
Why is employee wellbeing so important to you personally?
Employee wellbeing is important to me because it focuses on employees and what they need to function at their optimal level. It highlights the importance of addressing mental well-being and creating a safe environment of acceptance for those who are struggling. It means connecting employees to resources that help them manage their mental health and achieve work-life balance by developing a self-care plan.
What impact is AI having in your organisation and how are you managing that?
AI can analyze clients’ intake assessments which include presenting problems, childhood history, mental health history, social history, and highlight mental health conditions. As a therapist, I know this indicates conditions that need further exploration in our therapeutic sessions.
Other than AI, are there any challenges that you are seeing for the first time and how are you addressing them?
Some of the biggest challenges are helping employees create their own self-care plans within organizations that make it difficult for them to do so or work environments in which they do not feel safe. These employees feel that talking about mental health struggles could be viewed negatively or impact their continued employment. Working with clients to protect their mental health while navigating a hostile work environment can be challenging because the work culture makes it difficult to have a work-life balance.
What areas do you think employers should be focused on over the next 12 months?
Employers should be focused on developing a mental health & wellness policy. This policy shows employees that organizations are invested in ensuring their mental wellness. It is also crucial that there be regular mental health and wellness training that employees can attend so they are aware of techniques that they can use to stay on top of their mental health. Employers should train those in leadership positions to lead by example, create a safe space, be aware of mental health language in the workplace, and have knowledge of resources to help struggling employees.
Do you feel that investment in employee wellbeing in the region is increasing or decreasing and is that a direct reflection on HR leaders’ increasing ability to demonstrate effective returns of their strategies to leadership?
Investment in employee wellbeing is increasing as HR leaders are aware of the impact of employee wellbeing on productivity. Employees who are struggling with their mental health can have increased absenteeism, low engagement, high turnover rates, and poor quality of work, which can negatively impact the revenue of employers. Research studies have shown that Investing in mental health and wellness enhances employee wellbeing, which in turn boosts productivity.
How has your organization been leading the way?
Butterfly Counseling Services (BCS) is leading the way by humanizing mental health as part of destigmatizing mental health. BCS provides mental health training and workshops to agencies, companies, corporations, religious organizations, etc., by advocating for a safe environment to talk about mental health, teaching evidence-based techniques that people can use to stay on top of their mental health, and helping employers to change their mental health language and develop policies that empower their employees to have a work-life balance that prioritizes their well-being.
Dr. Sola Togun-Butler will be speaking in Riyadh at the Wellbeing at Work Summit Middle East which takes place in Riyadh, Dubai, Cairo and virtually. Further details on the Summit can be found here.
