MENTAL HEALTH DISCUSSED — Steve Wize, center, president and founder of Mental Fitness LLC, chatted with Colleen and Bob Merriman, founders of the Josh Merriman Foundation after speaking to staff in Edison Local Schools about preventing job burnout. The foundation supports visits to schools by Wize and others to speak about issues involving mental health, including teen suicide. -- Warren Scott

RICHMOND — Steve Wize, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Mental Fitness LLC, told many employees of Edison Local Schools Monday, “It’s not a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of strength — to seek help.”

Wize, whose talk with the school personnel was arranged by the Josh Merriman Foundation, said teachers are among professionals who too often take too much on, resulting in job fatigue, more commonly known as burnout.

He presented to teachers, administrators and other staff a pie chart in which “slices” were designated for such aspects of life as work, social interaction, leisure, health and spiritual matters such as purpose and spirit, were labeled.

Wize asked them to consider which slices are larger in their lives.

He encouraged them to seek a balance of such aspects while adding, “No one is going to be balanced perfectly.”

Teachers and health care workers are among professionals who have a great desire to help others and can be overwhelmed by that desire, ironically leading them to become apathetic, said Wize.

Suffering from a loss of passion for their work, they can become irritable, labeling those they serve in an unfavorable way and falling into such habits as cutting corners, tardiness and absenteeism, he said.

Wize said studies have found that satisfaction with work depends on an employee’s sense of being valued as part of a team, ability to relate to his or her supervisor and level of control over their situation.

Noting the term burnout has been attributed to psychologist Herber Freudenberger, in a 1974 book on the subject, Wize said it usually occurs over months.

He said the key to preventing burnout is creating healthy boundaries, separating various aspects of one’s life and not allowing one to encroach on another when possible.

Wize said the pandemic caused much stress for educators because boundaries were blurred, with teachers often learning to provide online instruction to students from home while their own children were engaged in remote learning themselves.

He said in order to set boundaries, individuals must learn to delegate responsibilities, prioritize tasks and learn to say no, among other strategies.

Wize added to reduce stress, individuals should put criticism in its proper context. If it’s true, then it presents an opportunity for personal growth and if it’s not true, it’s not important, he said.

“You are in 100 percent in control of your attitude,” he told his listeners.

Wize shared a photo of his grandmother, who had multiple sclerosis. He said he had only seen her in a wheelchair but she always displayed a positive attitude.

“Her physical health got worse through life, but her mental health was great,” he said.

Wize asked the attendees, “Are you looking at your life as a have-to or a get-to?”

He encouraged the teachers and other school personnel, “To achieve your full potential, master your thinking and master your life.”

Wize’s talk is among many at local schools that have been sponsored by the Josh Merriman Foundation, which is named after the Wintersville native and student-athlete at Robert Morris University when he died by suicide at age 21.

His parents, Bob and Colleen Merriman, said the foundation’s goal is to educate the public about suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury (which may have caused Josh to take his life) and mental health in general.

An annual scholarship given each year in Josh’s name, and the group holds a golf outing and other fundraisers.

Colleen said 50 teams have registered for this year’s golf outing, which will be held Aug. 19 at Steubenville Country Club, with tee times in the morning and afternoon.

They and others behind the Merriman Foundation also strive to promote the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, can be reached at (800) 273-8255 or 988.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)