Frontline and hourly workers are the backbone of our economy, but their health needs aren’t being met.
Depression rates among frontline workers are 61% higher than among non-frontline workers. People in these essential roles also experience more anxiety, stress, and burnout on the job. Despite these greater mental health needs, frontline workers are significantly less likely to get treatment and support.
It’s time to make mental health support a reality for those who need it most.
For World Mental Health Day 2024, the Health Action Alliance is sharing practical ways to bridge this glaring gap. Join us on Thursday, Oct. 10 for our third annual Mental Health Equity at Work Summit, featuring panel discussions with business leaders and mental health experts. We will explore the unique mental health needs of frontline workers — and what employers can do to make sure no one is left behind in the pursuit of workplace well-being.
The Health Action Alliance is a joint initiative of the Ad Council, the CDC Foundation and the de Beaumont Foundation—in partnership with Meteorite. Our free tools, training and events help employers, large and small, navigate evolving health challenges, improve the health of workers and engage with public health partners to build stronger, healthier communities.
Nikko Blodgett is the U.S. and E.U. Vibe Lead at Canva, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the company's workplace culture and employee experience across two major regions. With over nine years of expertise in workplace experience, Nikko is dedicated to fostering an engaging and inclusive environment that drives innovation and employee satisfaction.
Before joining Canva, Nikko honed her skills in various roles focused on enhancing workplace operations and engagement, contributing to transformative programs to best meet the needs of employees and initiatives that have significantly improved organizational culture.
Outside of work, Nikko is an advocate for Every Mother Counts, The City Eats and various well being programs across San Francisco. She enjoys spending time outdoors, trying new things, and has an infinitely long TBR. Her dedication to both her professional and personal pursuits reflects her belief in the power of a positive and supportive workplace culture.
Chris Forbeck serves as the Director of Total Rewards at NorthWestern Energy, a vertically integrated electric and gas utility headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Drawing on his background in human resources and finance, Chris brings a holistic approach to total rewards and has a keen interest in holistic well-being. He leverages his extensive experience to design comprehensive rewards systems that attract, retain, and motivate top talent.
Prior to joining NorthWestern Energy, Chris held various leadership roles in human resources and sales, honing his expertise in designing and implementing tailored rewards programs for companies across diverse industries. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Information Sciences and Technology from Pennsylvania State University, along with a MBA and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Robert Morris University.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Chris is an advocate for community engagement and volunteerism, actively contributing to youth hockey initiatives in South Dakota and beyond. He enjoys spending time with his family and participating in outdoor recreational activities.
Leena is a Content Strategist in Canva’s Marketing department, specializing in the Canva for Education team. She curates and develops content that activates and engages users, empowering educators and students with the skills and tools they need to excel on the Canva platform. Leena’s strategic approach ensures that the educational content she creates not only resonates with users but also drives meaningful engagement and learning outcomes.
Leena Marie Saleh brings over a decade of classroom experience as a former educator and more than six years in the Edtech space. Her passion lies in seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology into educational environments. She is dedicated to preparing students from pre-kindergarten through adulthood for the future workforce by equipping them with critical skills and advocating for equitable access to quality education.
Leena also hosts a Podcast and YouTube channel where she explores all things related to education, Edtech, and teacher transitions, offering support across the entire education landscape. When she's not recording her podcast, Leena is often found speaking at events or spending quality time with her 6-month-old son and 2-year-old Sheepadoodle.
Amy is an organizational strategy and creative leader who spent the last 21 years building high-performing teams and behavior-changing campaigns in the advertising world before joining Health Action Alliance as the program’s first Managing Director.
Throughout her career, her work for global consumer brands and major nonprofits has been recognized by more than 60 industry awards, including multiple Addys, Effies, Anthem Awards, Webbys, and Shorty Impact Awards. In her most recent role as Executive Vice President of Media Cause, she created and led the agency’s first employee mental health + wellbeing initiative, which was named This Can Happen Global’s 2023 “Best New Approach to Employee Wellbeing.” Her passion for collaborative leadership, team development, and building supportive workplace cultures also earned her the honor of being named 2023 “Nonprofit Mentor of the Year” by The Stevie Awards for Women in Business.
As part of her own professional and personal development, Amy has studied Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Mindful Self Compassion, and Organizational and Relationship Systems Coaching; earned certificates from the Center for Compassionate Leadership and Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute; and is a certified Empathy Decathlon Facilitator.
When she’s not actively working or learning, you can find Amy reading, writing, or exploring the North Georgia mountains with her husband, two kids, and rescue pup. She and her family also enjoy volunteering with All About Cats, a local Atlanta-based rescue, as a foster family for kitties who are waiting to find their forever homes.
Xiomara Arroyo is a Market Manager and Vice President for PNC Bank, serving the Southern California Region. She leads a team of dynamic financial consultants who customize financial wellness and employee benefits programs for mid to large-sized companies.
Xiomara began her career in the financial services industry 16 years ago. She holds an undergraduate degree from California State University San Marcos and will graduate with an Executive MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management in June 2022.
She spent most of her career leading various branch teams in Consumer Banking and soon thereafter joined the workplace banking team at Wells Fargo where she implemented new household growth strategies in collaboration with her business banking and commercial banking partners.
Mark Hyman Rapaport, MD, Professor, joined the department January 1, 2021 as new Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and CEO of the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI). Dr. Rapaport serves as the second William H. and Edna D. Stimson Presidential Endowed Chair, University of Utah School of Medicine.
Dr. Rapaport has received peer-reviewed grant funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), The National Cancer Institute, the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, The Stanley Medical Research Institute, the Veterans Affairs Research Board and the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) Foundation. His research interests focus on human psychoneuroimmunology, psychopharmacology research, clinical trial methodology, quality of life, and complementary and alternative medicine. Dr. Rapaport has trained and mentored students, physicians and researchers in the fields of psychopharmacology, outcomes research, and psychoneuroimmunology for over 30 years.
Dr. Rapaport's written over 190 articles and edited 4 books. He currently serves as Editor of Focus: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry, published by American Psychiatric Association Publishing, Inc. Dr. Rapaport is a member of the American College of Psychiatrists, American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Anxiety Disorders Association of America, the Psychiatric Research Society and the Collegium International Neuropsychopharmacology (CINP) and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP). He is a distinguished life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a distinguished fellow of the CINP.
