Upgrade to Pro — share decks privately, control downloads, hide ads and more …

Fostering Open Source Culture for Healthier Minds & Happier Devs

Fostering Open Source Culture for Healthier Minds & Happier Devs

Given at GitHub Universe 2017 - this talk discusses my personal journey with mental health & how you can use open source methodologies to help support a healthier environment.

You can view this talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFu-s8wzlIw

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Amy Dickens

October 11, 2017
Tweet

More Decks by Amy Dickens

Other Decks in Technology

Transcript

  1. OPEN SOURCE
    FOR HEALTHIER
    MINDS &
    HAPPIER DEVS

    View Slide

  2. @RedRoxProjects
    You seem nice… follow me!

    View Slide

  3. TRIGGER WARNINGS:
    DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SELF HARM, SUICIDE

    View Slide

  4. MANAGER
    OR TEAM LEAD
    OPEN SOURCE MAINTAINER
    OR REPOSITORY OWNER
    COMMUNITY LEADER
    OR VOLUNTEER
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  5. @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  6. GIVE CONTEXT
    PROVIDE EXAMPLES
    MINDFUL METHODS
    HOW YOU CAN HELP
    This talk will…
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  7. Mental Health Stats

    View Slide

  8. 1 in 5
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  9. 1 in 7
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  10. 50%
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  11. 2000
    2002
    2012
    2014
    2016
    2017
    @RedRoxProjects
    First instances
    of
    suicidal thoughts
    First instance
    of
    self harm
    First visit to
    a
    Doctor about m
    y
    m
    ental health
    First round
    of therapy
    (Counselling
    &
    Cognitive
    Behavioural Therapy
    - CBT)
    Breakdown
    leading
    to
    change
    of m
    edication
    Stable
    BUT
    still
    learning
    My Mental Health Journey

    View Slide

  12. anxious
    depressed
    paranoid
    happy
    confident
    bouncy
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  13. anxious
    depressed
    paranoid
    happy
    confident
    bouncy
    @RedRoxProjects
    Medication Myths...

    View Slide

  14. @RedRoxProjects
    Find it here...
    http://bit.ly/2yeFN1P
    My Blog Post

    View Slide

  15. @RedRoxProjects
    Just read your blog. Very honest, very powerful.
    Hope you're good xx
    Thanks for your post Been a bit on the brink recently, helps a little.
    Especially to know someone as accomplished as you suffers like me
    I know this is super random but i just wanted to say thanks for
    that medium article. Takes some guts to write something like
    that so good job on doing it
    So much strength and courage to share something so
    personal with everyone really proud of you xxx

    View Slide

  16. Be an Ally Empathy
    Understanding
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  17. @RedRoxProjects
    The struggle is REAL

    View Slide

  18. Hi Amy,
    Mona and I have been reading back through the
    discussion between you, Mona and Hubot, and the
    whole situation left us feeling very anxious. It took
    a bit of time for us to get our heads around why.
    @RedRoxProjects
    Oh erm Ok… What do you know
    about the situation?
    Why are you responding? Where has
    this come from?
    What did I do?
    Why are you feeling anxious…
    I’m the one who opened up…
    Did I do the wrong thing?

    View Slide

  19. We can see it is a project you are very passionate
    about and while this has worked in the past, it has
    lead to some heated discussions recently.
    triggered!
    Wow that was a backhanded compliment :/
    Was i really being that defensive? Weren’t
    we just debating? I’m confused
    *heart palpitations*
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  20. We are concerned that us getting involved and
    imposing our way of doing things, even
    inadvertently, might lead to further disagreements
    and tensions between us and we don't want that.
    Imposing??? What is going on here?
    I thought we were working together to
    find what suits us all best...
    Might? -- you’re kind of
    suggesting it will…
    Do i have a choice - how
    do i voice how i feel? Do I
    even bother?
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  21. We value our friendship with you and we do not
    believe it is worth risking it over this project.
    Do you really?? Am i being unreasonable? Is this
    because i told you about my mental health
    condition? I won’t do that again!
    Why couldn’t you talk to me in person…
    How is this all meant to sound?
    @RedRoxProjects
    Oh no… what does hubot think about me now?
    *ANgry cry*

    View Slide

  22. @RedRoxProjects
    My Personal Coping Mechanisms
    I listen to music on days
    when I struggle to socialise
    with people around me
    I use Cognitive Behavioural
    Therapy techniques like
    thought diaries for
    assessing situations
    I play piano and write when
    I need a release
    When I am extroverted and
    when I can and feel
    comfortable I talk about my
    experience to help others
    Follow our efforts
    @mkoftech
    When I’m severely
    introverted I write, blog, or
    draw

    View Slide

  23. 3
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  24. @RedRoxProjects
    1 Talk Openly

    View Slide

  25. @RedRoxProjects
    EMPATHY

    View Slide

  26. @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  27. @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  28. @RedRoxProjects
    1
    2
    Talk Openly
    Share Things

    View Slide

  29. @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  30. @RedRoxProjects
    If you have the ability to share
    EVERYTHING with EVERYONE
    - why aren’t you?

    View Slide

  31. 1
    2
    3
    @RedRoxProjects
    Talk Openly
    Share Things
    Remove Ambiguity

    View Slide

  32. @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  33. @RedRoxProjects
    +
    +
    +
    fine
    fine
    fine
    =
    =
    =
    sad/disappointed
    angry
    actually fine

    View Slide

  34. @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  35. CASE STUDY :
    GitHub Campus Experts
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  36. 1
    @RedRoxProjects
    We Talk Openly...

    View Slide

  37. @RedRoxProjects
    2 We Share Things...

    View Slide

  38. @RedRoxProjects
    3 We Remove Ambiguity...

    View Slide

  39. @RedRoxProjects
    Speak to a Campus Expert at Universe!

    View Slide

  40. Amy’s Dos & Don’ts
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  41. @RedRoxProjects
    Don’t...
    ● Ask people for labels or try to label people
    ● Assume tone
    ● Share conversations or info without explicit
    permission

    View Slide

  42. @RedRoxProjects
    Do...
    ● Give people the benefit of the doubt
    ● Check your language & encourage others to do so
    too - especially descriptors
    ● Offer your support as an ally

    View Slide

  43. Amanda’s GitHub Repo
    @RedRoxProjects

    View Slide

  44. @RedRoxProjects
    github.com/agelender/mental-health-resources

    View Slide

  45. @RedRoxProjects
    CHALLENGES HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
    1. Being a subject of gossip
    2. Alienation & awkwardness
    3. Denied career advances
    4. Communicating issues to team &
    management
    5. Taking time off for wellbeing
    6. Taking extended time off
    7. Symptoms that impact workflow &
    productivity
    1. Normalise conversations about
    mental health conditions
    2. Be open about your own needs
    3. Stop glamorizing over-working
    4. Encourage taking time off
    5. Seek out guidance within your
    company on management
    6. Work together to find
    accommodations
    Lessons from Amanda’s workshop on Mental Health

    View Slide

  46. @RedRoxProjects
    The most damaging
    phrase in the language is
    “We’ve always done it
    this way”
    Grace Hopper

    View Slide

  47. @RedRoxProjects
    Together == Better

    View Slide

  48. @RedRoxProjects
    Thank You

    View Slide