Breaking the Stigma

September 30, 2021 Debbie Reyes-Coloma

Is it really okay not to be okay? Experts say it is. But in reality it’s easier said than done. In a culture of “don’t ask, don’t tell” it takes herculean courage to admit that one is suffering from a mental health issue, the most common of which are depression and anxiety.

The unbearable feeling of shame, disgrace or disapproval that results in being rejected, discriminated against is by itself demoralising. No one wants to be labelled unstable or unfit for work or any social activity.

Depression and anxiety are the most common mood disorders in the world. It's not unusual for someone with an anxiety disorder to also suffer from depression or vice versa. Nearly half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Either or both can be triggered by a number of factors, and if left untreated can cause complications.

The presence of anxiety disorder and/or depression include signs of irrational worries or fears – those intrusive, uncontrollable and unwanted thoughts that get stuck in your brain and won't go away. Physical symptoms may include fatigue, headaches, rapid heartbeat, laboured breathing, abdominal pain, difficulty going to sleep or staying asleep.

Are you suffering from any of these symptoms but petrified to ask for help? You are not alone.

Breaking the stigma of mental health is an uphill battle. It is daunting. Rudi Ramin understands from experience the need for mental healthcare for the individual and the workforce.

“I personally struggled with mental health issues before and I was able to get help from mental health professionals. I know how debilitating it could be but also how the right kind of support allows you to overcome it. The stigma on mental health is decreasing especially among the younger population and now,” says the CEO of Infinit Care and IO Labs, which is essentially mental healthcare at your fingertips.

Rudi founded Infinit Care, a tech-based mental health company, working with companies to provide mental health support to their employees as well as to private individuals.

“I started Infinit Care because I realised how important taking care of your mental health is, especially in the time of this pandemic. We have a tech platform (web, iOS, Android) that allows employees and individuals to do check-ins, progress tracking, access personalised content, book a virtual counselling session and chat with a care coach.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed mental health conversations to the front due to rising mental toll among workers and individuals. But let’s be honest: for the average Joe and Jane struggling from a mental issue, just the thought of talking to someone can send chills down the spine.

Infinit Care is not intimidating. It’s designed to be a safe and no-judgment space that makes it easier for the individual to talk with a professional. It can provide comprehensive care through an integrated one-stop digital platform for both employees and private individuals. Simply put, you go online, enrol to subscribe, fill in a few boxes and book an appointment with a mental healthcare professional. In short, it’s as simple as booking a Grab.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices, according to experts.

Pre-Covid pandemic, the World Health Organisation estimated about 350 million people (roughly 4.4% of world population) suffer from depression alone.

Since its inception in January 2020 Infinit Care has been providing personalised resources, workshops, and counselors for employees' mental well-being. It connects you and your organization to mental health practitioners when you need it and wherever you are. Its network includes licensed psychologists, social workers, counselors, and coaches who can give you the guidance and tools you need through times of stress and anxiety.

To date, Infinit Care is supporting over 40 companies, 75,000 members and 3,240 consultation hours booked (and counting). Its clients are mostly MNCs based in the Philippines including MacDonald’s and Philips to name a few.

Rudi further explains: “If employers value their employees, then I believe they will invest in their total wellbeing which includes supporting their mental wellbeing. Mental health support is now hygiene in the US and it’s starting to be common in the developed world. I see this trend happening in Southeast Asia as well as more and more people talk about the need to take care of their mental health.

Employee engagement and productivity, which are important aspects for employers, would not be achieved if your employees have poor mental health. Since we started last year, we have worked with more than 40 companies in the Philippines which just shows how employers are now seeing this as important.”

Rudi has a reputation of being a business builder and people developer. He’s the first Filipino valedictorian of the Executive Master’s in Business Administration (EMBA) degree of the Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) business school in Singapore.

Before topping his class at INSEAD (ranked third business school in the world by the Financial Times with campuses in France, Abu Dhabi and Singapore), Rudi graduated magna cum Laude with a degree in BS Business Administration and Accountancy in the Philippines. He started his career in KPMG Philippines as an auditor.

His 20-year career spans local and regional roles in marketing, sales, finance and general management in the technology, consumer goods and professional services space, working for multinational companies including Google, Unilever and Mondelez (formerly Kraft Foods).

In 2014, he moved to Google based in Singapore and became the Brand Solutions Expert for Asia Pacific, helping CMOs across the region to develop marketing strategies fit for an increasingly digital world. It was in 2016 that he quit Google and co-founded tech startup Grow360, an online platform helping teams and individuals perform better through feedback, development planning and progress tracking using a proprietary methodology developed by INSEAD leadership experts.

His career trajectory in stress-inducing environments for such a short period of time has given him a better perspective on and understanding of mental health. Looking back, the 42-year-old Gen Xer shares his biggest learnings.

“The way I approach my career is the same as the way I approach my life. Carpe diem (Seize the day)!

I believe that if you decide based on what you believe in and are passionate about, you will succeed. Or at least, you will learn a lot. And this will make you a more fulfilled person. It’s not the easiest path but I think it is the most rewarding. A few learnings I’ve learned in the past 20 years:

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. Your mind is critical to whatever you want to do in your career and in your life so keeping it healthy is as important as eating the right food, getting enough sleep or working out.

Your personal relationships matter. However successful your career is, at the end of the day, it is your personal relationships, your family and friends, who have the biggest impact to your happiness. There were times in my career where I sacrificed that and those did not work out well for me.

You cannot do it alone. Your network is critical to what you can do in life. I am privileged to have met amazing mentors, coaches and supporters along my career journey. And cultivating these relationships and being open to new ones is something very important if you want to maximise the opportunities you have in life.

Focusing on keeping mentally healthy, nurturing personal relationships with time and effort, and investing energy in your network and expanding it are things he will be doing moving forward.

“I am focused now on getting employers to support their employees’ mental health through Infinit Care,” says the digital native adding that his father, who passed away 20 years ago, is his biggest inspiration.

“My dad inspired me to not be afraid to take risks and to do what I believe in. He instilled in me the value of learning through doing.”

Despite his previous mental health struggles, he has no regrets. He is living his childhood dream.

“I have always dreamed of leading a company and, yes, I am living it. It is harder than how I imagined it but I am enjoying the challenge. I don't dwell on regrets because the past is something you can't do anything about. I think I am a much better person now than I was 10 years ago,” he says with great humility.

Into the future, he would like to continue immersing himself in the technology space, but is open to its different applications to various industries.

“I am curious about other technology spaces like automation, cybersecurity and direct-to-consumer products. I am interested in bringing traditional industries to the digital world because I think all companies need to go through digital transformation,” he says.

Besides Infinit Care, he is also a big supporter of SGUnited Traineeship Pro for Trainees, a government-backed programme that helps graduates develop their skills professionally even during the current economic climate. With up to six months traineeship, it aims to equip young locals with valuable experience and allow them to gain a firmer foothold in the job market during the economy recovery.

“I am interested in supporting the young talent of Singapore, especially at this difficult time. I learned about the SGUnited Traineeship programme last year and applied to secure two trainees who worked with us for a year. Both of them already secured full-time jobs after their traineeship, which is the main objective of this programme,” says Rudi, who is currently waiting for application approval for his new trainees.

Rudi with his intern and trainees

Rudi is many things to many people – mentor, tech expert, inspiring role model, startup entrepreneur – but he hopes “people will remember me as a good person who tried his best to live a fulfilling life for himself and for others”.

“Seize the day and live life to the fullest. And enjoy the journey, not just the destination” A straight-from-the-heart advice from someone who once struggled with his mental health.

Rudi is proof that it’s really okay not to be okay. The key is don’t be afraid to ask for help. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, and neither is talking about it.

Debbie | ws