Psych Health and Safety Podcast USA

The majority of the current workforce in the United States (roughly 35% of the total) were born between 1981 and 1996. They are part of a social cohort known as Millennials, also known as Generation Y or Gen Y. In 2025, as much as 75% of the workforce worldwide will be millennials. While they are not monolithic, engaging millennials in the workplace could be much better if they were appropriately led. Establishing clear goals with milestones is one of the ways that can be achieved. Millennials also appreciate being recognized for their work. Ultimately, what makes millennials want to stay with an organization is treating them like humans, not disposable corporate drones. In this episode, Dr. I. David Daniels will speak with Marques Bush, a self-described “X-Millennial” who serves as deputy fire chief in Lynchburg, Virginia. Though he is the product of a highly traditional occupation, he has several non-traditional views about the workplace. He has several non-traditional views about the workplace in general and workplace mental health. These views are not only by the generation he is part of but also by his specific experiences.

In this episode, Dr. I. David Daniels will speak with Wayne Pignolet, the Head of Operations at White Males, as Full Diversity Partners (WMFDP). Given the reality that a psychosocial hazard is a psychosocial factor perceived or experienced by the individual exposed, it should be no surprise that people of different ages, races, gender or sexual identity, socioeconomic status, and ability status will have different perceptions and experiences in workplaces. And while it’s common for women and people of color to be viewed as full partners in efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion, it is not as common to have white men viewed the same. Wayne will discuss his lived experience as a self-described "privileged kid" and successful business owner, combined with a life-changing workplace injury, to focus on the critical intersection between safety, diversity, equity, and belonging. He believes that change in this space is about leadership from those that represent the majority of those in these positions in the American economy, white men. He and his colleagues at WMFDP suggest that leadership that needs to take place is not a “zero-sum” proposition but an opportunity for true personal and organizational benefit.

In this episode, Dr. I. David Daniels will speak with Dr. Joe Grasso, Senior Director of Workforce Transformation at Lyra Health. He is a clinical psychologist, mental health researcher, educator by training, and a partner to employers on workforce mental health strategy by trade. In the U.S., there are an estimated 350 individuals for every mental health provider. However, these figures may overestimate active mental health professionals, as they may include providers who are no longer practicing or accepting new patients. In addition to the lack of access to mental health services, many of the delivery systems themselves need fresh eyes and fresh approaches to the issue that has become more prevalent in the past few years than ever. Dr. Grasso began his academic career seeking to go into advertising but shifted to focus more on human behavior. In the aftermath of COVID-19, he has been focused on macro approaches to workplace mental health.

One of the standard ways to avoid physical injuries and reduce the overall effect of exposure to significant hazards is to be physically fit. Physical fitness is achieved in many ways depending on the individual and their current state of fitness. Similarly, psychological fitness can be essential in maintaining mental health in the workplace. In this episode, Dr. I. David Daniels will speak with Dr. Karen Doll, who works at the intersection of personal well-being and professional development. She is a Consulting Psychologist with 25 years of experience in talent assessment, development, individual and group coaching, customizing and executing strategies, and developing programs and platforms to meet organizational objectives. In her book Building Psychological Fitness: How High Performers Achieve with Ease, Dr. Doll addresses how to handle stress and avoid burnout by building psychological fitness. The book offers detailed information regarding science-backed and evidenced-based interventions and practices to enhance your well-being and resilience. During this episode, Dr. Doll, a licensed psychologist, coach, and author, will “take us to school” regarding how to build psychological fitness as a way to psychological health and safety.

In this episode, Dr. I. David Daniels speaks with Eric Gislason, the Executive Director of the National Association of Safety Professionals. Traditional safety professionals are, in many cases, still beginning to understand the concept of psychological health and safety and how psychosocial hazards relate to an effective safety management system. Eric will share his perspective as a tenured safety professional that “OSHA compliance is Not Enough.” Eric will also share how the NASP prioritizes training and certification for those who either have not, cannot, or cannot attend college. This focus on “working safety professionals” provides opportunities for those whose opportunities to progress might otherwise be limited.

Mary Ann Baynton, Director of Strategy and Collaboration for Canada Life’s Workplace Strategies for Mental Health, discusses the progress of the Canadian Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. They talk about the importance of psychological health and safety, the development and implementation of the standard, and the impact of our actions on others. They emphasize the need for continuous dialogue and provide resources for creating a psychologically safe workplace.

In this episode, host Dr. I. David Daniels will speak with Lisa Jones-Chandler, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist, and Chief of Corporate Excellence at Vibrant Emotional Health. Vibrant is the administrator of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Ms. Jones will share her perspective as a mental health professional and clinician focusing on operationalizing systems that will create mental and emotional health in the workplace. From the difference and similarities between mental health and mental illness to the purpose and benefit of the 988 system, Ms. Jones-Chandler will share various essential points relative to ensuring that the workplace is psychologically healthy and safe.

In this episode, host Dr. I. David Daniels speaks with Chauncia Willis, the co-founder and CEO of the Institute for Diversity in Emergency Management. Ms. Willis is a seasoned emergency management professional with experience in city, county, and state emergency management agencies and private sector consulting. The physical and psychological impact of disasters don’t necessarily end as the physical hazards subside, and in many cases, the effects are more severe in some communities than in others. Research suggests that cultural minority populations, specifically African Americans and Latinos, have a higher risk of disaster exposure and are disproportionally affected by them. The higher risk among communities of color may result from the lack of basic resources, including food, shelter, and income, but also lower levels of disaster education and preparedness, lower risk perception, lower likelihood of evacuation, lower socioeconomic status, and a higher likelihood of residence in poorly constructed homes. I-DIEM leverages diversity, inclusion, and equitable practices to build community resilience and improve disaster outcomes, especially for disadvantaged individuals and communities. Our holistic approach recognizes the value of the diverse attributes of each individual and community while understanding that historical and existing inequity create barriers that limit the ability to prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from disasters.

One of the core indicators of the level of psychological health and safety in an organization is the degree of freedom that workers have to share their concerns about various topics that affect their safety and their comfort level after doing so. In this episode, Dr. I. David Daniels will speak with Jessica Martinez, the Co-Executive Director of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health. The mission of NCOSH is to “build the power of workers and their organizations to demand jobs that are safe, healthy, and free from exploitation and abuse.” NCOSH is a federation of 26 grassroots worker groups and the home of the worker’s health and safety movement in the U.S. National COSH is a broad community that includes members of unions and workers’ centers, health and safety professionals, academic specialists, and non-profit advocates. They specialize in peer learning, training, support for worker organizing, and advocacy campaigns. NCOSH’s focus on safety is unique in that it is rooted in activism and the pursuit of justice for workers, especially workers from black, brown, indigenous, poor, and other marginalized communities that are over-represented in workplace injury and fatality statistics. This activism includes an annual effort to identify the worst employers in the country in terms of how they treat workers that they call the “dirty dozen.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that 51.7% of the workforce is female. However, according to Zippia.com, 27.2% of occupational health and safety specialists are women, and 72.8% are men. This suggests that many policies, procedures, and practices relative to safety are created for and by men. This discrepancy can contribute to physical and psychosocial hazards that harm women and may not be the same for men. In this episode, Dr. I. David Daniels speaks with Rose McMurray, who has been focused on safety and the involvement of women in the safety profession for many years. Ms. McMurray was one of the "founding mothers" of the Nation Safety Council's Women's Division, which is focused on the the inclusion and development of women in the safety profession. Ms. McMurray is a transportation safety professional specializing in consulting services for trucking, motor coach, transit, and other transportation sectors. She also provides expert witness services in truck and motor coach legal cases and teaches safety management at the graduate student level. Before she retired from the federal government in January 2011, Ms. McMurray served as the Chief Safety Officer (CSO) and Assistant Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Ms. McMurray’s efforts have earned her several awards, including the National Safety Council’s Marion Martin and Distinguished Service to Safety awards. Other honors awarded to Ms. McMurray include twice receiving the Senior Executive Service Presidential Rank Award, the Secretary of Transportation’s Meritorious Achievement Award, and the Secretary’s Gold Medal. She has served on the Board of Advisors for the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Board of Directors of the National Safety Council.