A dsm-firmenich employee story, as told in conversation with Klara VandenBosch, Associate Director of Vitality projects
At dsm-firmenich, the well-being of our employees is always one of our top priorities. We recognize that mental fitness is like physical fitness in the way it is crucial for maintaining a balanced and energized life, both personally and professionally. Here, Klara VandenBosch, Associate Director of Vitality projects, explains why we take mental health so seriously.
So, Klara, why does dsm-firmenich place such a premium on mental fitness at work?
Because mental fitness is what enables us to navigate our daily challenges with resilience and strength. It’s fundamental to our purpose of bringing progress to life.
What are the main features of the program?
The Global Vitality Office is recruiting and training over 600 Mental Fitness Champions (MFCs) in partnership with HSE Global. In addition to their regular work, MFCs are trained to be trusted go-to persons, offering a friendly ear and referring employees for professional help if needed. Our goal is to have MFCs available at every dsm-firmenich location, ensuring support is always close by.
For years companies have seen the value in physical fitness, so this program has been designed to do exactly the same for people’s mental health, helping them develop their resilience both in and out of the workplace.
Why does the program focus on employees helping other employees?
By training MFCs, we aim to foster a supportive work environment in which mental health is openly discussed and stigma can be overcome. MFCs are carefully selected based on their passion for helping others and their ability to observe confidentiality. We encourage all employees to take advantage of this valuable resource and so far, the initiative has been very well received across the business.
The team talker course really enhanced my knowledge of well-being as well as raising my awareness of mental health and situation-handling. As an MFC I always do my best to ensure my colleagues feel safe and happy.
What benefits have been observed to date, and are there plans to expand the program?
More than 400 employees have so far been trained and certified to hold conversations on mental health issues with the aim of normalizing the experience of talking about mental health. More employees, as well as our SHE managers, will be trained in 2025. We’re building a global community of Mental Fitness ambassadors to help create a culture of health at dsm-firmenich.
The class was great and the mental health continuum stuck with me. We shared it with teams in Columbia to encourage asking: Where are you on the continuum today?