“When I started doing charity, I always liked to challenge myself with something I haven’t done.”
Those were the words of Stefan Feldmann, HDI Global SE’s managing director in Australia and regional head for ASEAN & Australasia, when Insurance Business caught up with the CEO Skydive participant ahead of his charitable jump.
Organised by not-for-profit Black Dog Institute, the April 30 event in Wollongong will see 17 bosses, including Feldmann, skydive with Experience Co for the benefit of mental health research.
Somebody in the team sent him the invite and said, ‘Stefan, this has your name written all over it’, recalled the HDI Global SE leader, who agreed with the remark and signed up for the fundraising initiative.
“Mental health is a very important topic to talk about, not only in the workplace but in general so people don’t suffer in silence,” stated Feldmann. “And that’s usually the biggest problem, particularly for guys, where they don’t talk about it and they deal with it themselves, quite often with alcohol or other ways of self-medication.
“I think the best is to find a way to address it. I really do want to create a culture in the office where people feel comfortable to open up. I’m quite happy when I hear people openly talk about it, because it means they have a healthy approach to these things and don’t think they have to just push through it.”
The insurer, for instance, has an employee assistance programme (EAP) in place for staff as well as their family members. It offers access to qualified and registered psychologists for a counselling service that lends support in both work and personal life.
The managing director, who believes there’s more that needs to be done on the mental health front, noted about the EAP: “We don’t see who is calling as it’s all anonymous, but it’s interesting to see that people make use of these services.”
Meanwhile Feldmann has never skydived before and isn’t doing any special training at this point; instead the insurance boss is putting all his efforts into fundraising. As of this writing, Feldmann has already raised nearly $8,000, or just over $2,000 shy of the target. With many of his peers offering support, the MD said he is encouraged by their donations.
Collectively, the initiative has so far raised in excess of $119,000. All funds raised will go towards helping to reduce the incidence of suicide and mental illness through the work of the Black Dog Institute.
You can support Feldmann’s CEO Skydive here.
