BARR Invests in Mental Health Awareness, One Mile at a Time

At BARR Advisory, we believe people belong at the center of cybersecurity. And this belief goes beyond providing high quality cybersecurity and compliance services. By taking a human-first approach in everything we do at BARR, we prioritize our own company culture, inclusivity, and mental health awareness in order to work toward our shared goal of creating a more secure world.

“Mental health and work are not mutually exclusive,” said Whitney Lindsey, head of people and culture.

“Our goal at BARR is to create an environment of trust and well-being. We want our associates to be healthy so they can not only do their jobs effectively but feel they have balance within their personal lives.”

Avi Benshoshan, senior consultant said, “From the client service perspective, audits are stressful, and when associates tend closely to their mental health, we can offer calmness and ease throughout the engagement process.”

While Mental Health Awareness Month is behind us, here are some ways in which BARR recognizes the importance of mental health every May and throughout the year.

Mile a Day Challenge

This year, BARR took our commitment to mental health awareness a step further. Together, the BARR Belong Foundation and BARR’s Resource Groups joined the national movement to raise awareness about mental health, and during May, we challenged all BARR associates to move “One Mile a Day to Keep the Stress Away.”

“Our goal for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month Challenge was to support each other in our personal journeys to overall health,”  said Jonnae Hill director of associate experience and community engagement. “We challenged our team to log one mile of movement every day in May—through walking, running, biking, roller skating—whatever activity that makes associates want to get out and move.”

This May, BARR associates logged nearly 400 miles collectively, all while amplifying Mental Health America’s 2023 theme of “Look Around, Look Within.”

Mental Health Resource Group

BARR offers ongoing mental health resources such as the associate-led Mental Health Resource Group (MHRG). The mission for the MHRG is to serve as an open-ended space that provides resources and information on mental health. The MHRG is also an inclusive, safe space for associates to share their experiences and current needs related to their struggle with, perseverance through, and triumph over mental health-related obstacles of any size.

“Our aim with the MHRG is to make mental health a priority by providing resources and information relevant to all,” said Sarah Varnell, senior associate and leader of BARR’s MHRG.

“We really want associates to feel like they aren’t alone in their mental health journeys. Sharing our stories and building a safe community creates a sense of belonging and helps strengthen our work culture.”

The MHRG leads initiatives like a monthly virtual open house and continuing professional education sessions on managing mental health as well as provides resources for BARR associates—like how to take advantage of healthcare benefits and finding the right care outside of work.

Interested in learning more about BARR’s culture and cybersecurity services? Contact us today.