Health Carousel’s Fall Mental Health Series Raises $42,000 for 1N5

Over the past few years, as many businesses, we have all become increasingly aware of how important mental health awareness and resources are to our employees and our communities. Due to a sharp increase of users for our mental health benefits and a rising need across the globe, we decided to make this a larger priority for us as an organization.

This year, our Fall Mental Health Series once again supported 1N5, a local nonprofit whose mission is to prevent suicide by erasing the stigma of mental illness and promoting optimal mental wellness. We partnered with 1N5 for their annual Warrior Run and 5K Fundraiser and connected our employees to 1N5’s webinars and mental health resources, tailored to corporate employees for workplace wellness and work/life/family stress balance. We also hosted our first QPR suicide prevention certification in partnership with 1N5’s expert trainers.

To get employees even more excited about the crucial work this organization does, we hosted our 4th Annual Virtual Raffle for a Cause. Employees and leaders generously donated physical items and experiences such as sports tickets, hotel experiences, golf outings, gift cards, personalized swag, and much more. During this year’s carnival-themed virtual raffle, the winners were called, the chat was lively, and everyone had a blast!

All the money for tickets purchased was donated to 1N5 to support their work in supporting local mental health initiatives and ongoing mental health education. That evening, Health Carousel leaders announced they would match every dollar donated, doubling the overall effort, and bringing the total to over $42,000 raised and donated.

Our employees were so appreciative of the Fall Mental Health Series and shared how the initiative impacted them personally:

“After a conversation with one of my coworkers about our trauma, they gave me the contact information for an amazing therapist. I have since reached out to this therapist so that I can start healing and let go of the past. If you are suffering from mental health issues, you are in a safe space. Know that through Heath Carousel Benefits, you can start the healing process when you are ready.”

“I very much appreciated the QPR session that was offered. I have stepped in a few times myself with friends/family who believed there was no other way out. I hope people realize how important it is to start the conversation on mental health and suicide. You matter!!”

“This cause is important to me because one of my good friends committed suicide my sophomore year of high school. It was one of the hardest things for me to have to cope with at a younger age. Mental health is an extremely important topic to bring awareness to and I appreciate that Health Carousel does just that!”

We want to give a special thank you to 1N5's Corporate Program Manager, Kelly Barry for her amazing partnership with our Health Carousel leaders and Employee Resource Groups. Kelly's passion for mental health mixed with her ability to tailor session content to the needs of the audience created a perfect atmosphere for Health Carousel employees to have vulnerable conversations and create impactful connections.

About 1N5

The mission of 1N5 is to prevent suicide by erasing the stigma of mental illness and promoting optimal mental wellness. We achieve this mission through education and stigma reduction, community engagement, policy and advocacy, and measurement and data work. 1N5 is focused on making a difference in how we talk about mental health. Our youth are in crisis, with 20% of youth ages 13-18 living with a mental health condition. Join us to START the conversation, together we can make a positive difference and STOP the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Let’s talk!