Meet Nick Bracks: A Visionary Advocate for Mental Health
Through our exclusive interview here at ei-matters, we have the opportunity to delve deeper into Nick’s vision for workplace wellness and the groundbreaking solutions offered by MYND. Together, we can break down barriers, challenge stigma, and create a world where mental health is valued, celebrated, and prioritized in every workplace. With Nick Bracks leading the way, the path to workplace wellness is brighter than ever before.
The Silent Crisis
In the bustling world of construction and trade industries, where physical labor often takes precedence, mental health can sometimes be overlooked. However, behind the scenes, a silent crisis looms large. In Australia alone, the construction industry loses one worker to suicide every two days, highlighting the urgent need for support and intervention.
Championing Mental Health in High-Risk Industries: Nick Bracks’ Journey
From his early experiences grappling with mental health challenges to his prolific career in media and entrepreneurship, Nick Bracks’ journey is one defined by resilience, empathy, and a relentless pursuit of change. As an Australian media personality, entrepreneur, sought-after public speaker and published author, Nick has used his platform to share his own experiences with mental health and advocate for greater awareness and support. With MYND, Bracks takes his advocacy to new heights, offering tangible solutions and support for employee wellness, prioritizing their mental well-being.
Move Your Mind Platform: Employee Wellness Revolution:
At its core, MYND is more than just an employee assistance program (EAP); it’s a lifeline for individuals working in physically demanding and often high-stress environments. Through its innovative wellness app and hub, MYND offers a comprehensive suite of resources tailored to the unique needs of the construction and trade industry. From mental health tools to real-time analytics and access to online psychology services, MYND equips workers with the support they need to prioritize their mental health and well-being.
Normalizing the Conversation: MYND’s Mission
At the heart of MYND lies a simple yet profound goal: to normalize the conversation around mental health and provide individuals with the tools and resources they need to achieve a healthy mindset for a sustainable life. Through its innovative approach to workplace wellness, MYND aims to break down barriers, challenge stigma, and empower individuals to prioritize their mental health without fear or judgment. By offering science-based solutions and fostering open dialogue, MYND is leading the way in creating a culture of support and understanding.
Nick, your personal journey has been marked by resilience and transformation. How did your own experiences with mental health challenges shape your vision for Move Your Mind and the MYND platform?
My personal journey in mental health has been directly linked to my career progression as an advocate and entrepreneur in the mental wellness space.
Growing up in a prominent Australian political family, I was exposed to life in the public eye since I was 12 years old. Struggling to cope with depression & anxiety through substance abuse, I first gained notoriety in my early 20s through a publicly documented car crash that nearly killed my best friend and myself.
The drunk driving incident became a catalyst to turn my life around, exposing my mental health issues and allowing me to receive the help I desperately needed. The media attention I gained after the crash led to a career in modeling, followed by an invitation to participate as a celebrity contestant on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ in 2011. While on Dancing With The Stars, I took the opportunity to speak publicly about my battle with depression & anxiety, becoming a pioneer in mental health advocacy.
I have spoken at schools, organizations and events more than 1,000 times over the past 13 years, and have delivered several TED Talks. This gave me first hand experience into workplace culture and the desperate need for preventative services. This is how Move Your Mind came to fruition.
Move Your Mind is a tech-enabled employee assistance program (EAP) provider, facilitating employee wellbeing with an innovative wellness app & hub.
Our team is driven by a mission to provide tangible, sustainable support to construction & trades workers at an affordable price. Much more than your traditional EAP provider, we focus heavily on prevention, offering supportive tools presented in a user-friendly format with real-time anonymous analytics to inform decision-making, adhere to compliance requirements, & get ahead of issues on- site and in the workplace.
Growing up in a high-profile family, you’ve experienced life in the public eye. How did this background influence your decision to create Move Your Mind and address mental health in the workplace?
Growing up in a high profile family, I was exposed to media attention from a very young age. When I became a public figure in Australia, it felt somewhat natural to speak publicly and advocate for mental health awareness and causes I believe in. Growing up in a successful family gave me the self belief and drive to make a difference. It also put a fire under me to prove myself and create my own path.
What inspired the development of the MYM platform, and how does it differ from traditional corporate wellness programs?
We provide mental health & wellness resources, wellbeing analytics, and access to online psychology services through our admin portal, Company Hub & mobile app.
We offer a 2-tier monthly subscription model. Tier 1 includes access to the MYND app & admin portal, and pay-per- use psychology sessions hosted directly through the MYND app. Keeping things anonymous, users have no need to contact their employer to book a session.
Tier 2 includes all of the above, with the addition of the Company Hub, which includes additional features, like our custom survey portal, online simplified incident reporting, a central platform to share internal resources & announcements, and much more.
We differ from other EAP services as we prioritize preventative care and have gone above and beyond to create the best product possible to encourage regular use, leading to habit formation and sustainable change.
In your opinion, what are the key challenges companies face in promoting employee well-being, and how does the MYND platform address these challenges?
The main challenge is employee retention. It is very difficult to get employees to use any new offering and even more difficult to get them to regularly use it. Our simple solution has been taking the time and finding the resources to make the best solution possible, using a social media type feed of content and creating an experience that is fun and engaging.
The platform acts as your own personal wellness hub, where you can do anything from access leading content across all areas of wellness, with content presenting to you based on behavior using an algorithm, creating your own wellness plan, tracking health data such as sleep, steps and heart rate, setting goals and habits and tracking your weekly and monthly wellness trends. You also get 24/7 guidance from an AI coach and can book therapy and coaching sessions from experts around the world.
The other difference is our hands on approach when inducting and retaining employees. We work diligently and make a considered approach with each organization.
As both an entrepreneur and mental health advocate, how do you balance the business aspect of Move Your Mind with the mission of fostering emotional well-being?
It is a constant balancing act! Additionally, I am managing my TV career around all of this. Sometimes it can lead to having no balance at all and many late night working sessions. I have to constantly check in with myself and make sure I am getting my personal needs met or I can easily fall into being in work mode 24/7. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Can you share more about your upcoming dark comedy TV show, “Amiss,” and its connection to your journey?
Amiss is a situational comedy TV show capturing the trials and tribulations of three millennials from different backgrounds navigating the relentless challenges of living in New York City. The premise of the show (and one of the characters) is based on my own life story. The idea came to me in the first year of moving my life to New York City, finding inspiration in the chaos and relentlessness nature of trying to make it in New York! The show shines light on mental health issues that stem from living in the modern world with a comedic undertone. It is deeply connected to my journey.
Closing with Gratitude: A Heartfelt Appreciation for Nick Bracks
As we conclude this illuminating journey into the world of workplace wellness and mental health advocacy, it’s essential to extend our deepest gratitude to Nick Bracks. His unwavering dedication, compassion, and pioneering spirit have inspired us all to strive for a future where mental health is valued, celebrated, and prioritized in every workplace.
We are immensely grateful for Nick’s invaluable insights, his tireless efforts to destigmatize mental illness, and his visionary leadership in shaping the landscape of workplace wellness through MYND. Thank you, Nick, for your profound impact and unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of countless individuals. Together, we can continue to pave the way for a brighter, healthier future for all. If you wish to connect with Nick or learn more about MYND, please visit Nick Bracks’ official website or explore the resources available on the MYND page.
Links:
https://nickbracks.com/moveyourmind/
https://www.facebook.com/nickbracks
https://www.instagram.com/nickbracks/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD7QTD-Fgm38w07YWvYs1EQ
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickbracks/
https://twitter.com/nickbracks
