Sponsored by Brecheen Pipe & Steel
Danielle Brecheen knows personally that a mental health struggle can throw a person’s entire life out of balance. It can impact everything from relationships to decision-making to productivity at work.
Brecheen, owner of Brecheen Pipe & Steel in Port Allen, has had a slight depression issue for years. When her father suffered a heart attack when she was just 32, the pressures mounted quickly as she took on the task of running the family business while also caring for her father. It sent her into a downward spiral. “I realized at that point that I had a problem,” Brecheen says. “Had I not realized it and gone to my doctor to discuss it, I would have wiped out.”
Since then, there have been other struggles – Brecheen lost her mother in 2019, father in 2021 and sister in June – but because of her prior experience with depression she knew how to cope. “The last few years have been difficult,” she adds, “but I’ve learned how to keep myself on the upside of sadness.”
Unfortunately, many people don’t seek help as she did out of embarrassment, shame or fear. “But there’s no real reason for them not to seek help. There are medications, therapies and tools available to them, and a lot more acceptance than there used to be.
“It’s treatable like any other illness,” she adds. “If you have high blood pressure and don’t take a pill you could have a heart attack. If you’re depressed and you don’t take a pill you’ll be completely dysfunctional.”
Know Your People 
There has been a silver lining to Brecheen’s struggles, as they’ve made her a more compassionate person in the workplace. She feels a boss or manager should know their employees on a personal level; that way, they’ll be better able to notice changes in behavior and provide help when necessary.
“You’ve got to know your people,” she says. “It wouldn’t be a bad idea for larger companies to have someone walking around and meeting and greeting employees every day. Get to know them, along with their likes and dislikes. I have relationships with everyone from my floor sweeper to my general manager.”
Unfortunately, many companies aren’t structured that way. “Most of them want the employee to prove themselves worthy of the business, but I feel that all employees need to know from the beginning that the business has their backs. My employees know that if they need to give more time to their mental health or to their families, they can get it. The mental health of all my employees is extremely important.
“I always want to be there for my people, because I know that if I take care of them, they’ll take care of the business.”
An attentive manager can usually tell when someone’s having a bad today. “It’s about looking for changes in behavior,” she adds. “If someone is generally a friendly person, but they’re coming in with their head down, or if a normally quiet person is coming to work late, not doing their work efficiently …. those are tell-tale signs.” The earlier a manager takes action the better, as early intervention can be the key to a successful outcome. Do you feel like you need help? Connect today with a National Mental Health Hotline specialist at 1.866.903.3787.
