Mental Wellness Mastery: Mental Health Expert Marlon Morgan Of Wellness Together On Everyday Life Hacks For Optimal Mental Wellness
An Interview With Eden Gold
Be a part of something bigger than ourselves.
Find a community that has a shared common purpose. This could be a volunteer organization, fitness classes, a sports team, a place of worship, a support group, or a book club. When our needs for connection and meaning are being met, we are less anxious, have fewer distractions, and enjoy life more.
In our modern, fast-paced society, mental wellness is a crucial aspect of leading a fulfilling life. However, for many people, achieving and maintaining good mental health can be a challenging task, with obstacles such as stress, anxiety, depression, and more. That’s why it’s essential to have practical and accessible strategies for mental wellness that can help build resilience, emotional intelligence, and overall well-being. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Marlon Morgan.
Marlon Morgan is the founder and CEO of the national nonprofit organization Wellness Together, Inc. He works with school districts, universities, state offices of education, the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, and the U.S. Department of Education to increase awareness, advocacy, and access to mental health interventions for students, families, school staff, and individuals everywhere. Marlon is a licensed therapist and curriculum consultant for Harvard Medical School and works with leading corporations to support employees’ mental well-being. He is also the host of the “This Helps” podcast where he interviews some of the world’s leading helpers about mental health.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about Mental Wellness Life Hacks, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
I was raised near Sacramento, California, in a two-bedroom apartment by a single mom who was juggling nursing school full-time while working at the local hospital. I watched her work really hard for our family. We were close, and I learned at an early age that people are more valuable than possessions. I saw too that there were a lot of people at school who didn’t have someone to talk to. Luckily, my mom had encouraged me to go out for football and the coaches showed interest in helping me succeed. I initially wanted to be a coach and physical education teacher because of them. Then I realized one semester into college that all I really wanted to do was be a supportive person for students, that I could be a school counselor and a coach. I changed my major to psychology and went on to get a Master’s in counseling.
In the early 2000s, I became a school counselor with around 750 students on my caseload between two high schools. Even then I realized there wasn’t someone in the school whose role had the time and resources necessary to meet the specific mental health needs of students. While that’s what I studied and what I wanted to do, it wasn’t what I was hired to do. My role as a school counselor was to help fill out college admission forms and provide career counseling. Since I was young and didn’t have a family yet, I chose to commit my daytime hours to meet with students and did all the schedule changes and administrative work at night. I was fulfilling some of their needs, but that model was not sustainable.
That’s when I started doing research on the students with a 0.0 GPA in all of the high schools in the district. Over 70% of students who were failing school were actually proficient or advanced in math and English on California standardized tests. In nearly every case there was a lack of resources or advocacy at home. By creating a safe place at school for students to have conversations to reflect on their thoughts and emotions, we started seeing personal growth, and the students doing better in school. Their attendance got better. Their behavior got better. And, after some time, their grades also improved too.
Mental health programs in schools were not considered a priority to help students learn. I presented my research to school and district leaders, secured funding, and launched an evidence-based mental health program to provide the mental health services students needed to succeed in school and beyond. This quickly evolved into a nonprofit model to support other school districts that were reaching out for help. That was the beginning of Wellness Together.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
As a CEO, I was often asked “What would you do with $1 million?” I became accustomed to answering this question without the expectation of receiving a donation.
So, in 2018 when leaders approached me from Blue Shield of California, they asked what I would do with $10 million as part of a five-year initiative. I assumed it was more of a curiosity about the long-term vision for Wellness Together and less of a qualifying question for a potential donation. I responded as I usually did with the mission to provide free mental health services to students who experienced barriers to care. We would choose the schools in the areas that had the most need and provide five years of completely free mental health services. To my surprise, they were interested in talking more. They then attended our annual Student Mental Wellness Conference where we met again, and this time they told us they wanted Wellness Together to be the signature partner on the historic Blue Sky initiative. Wellness Together would be the mental health services provider in schools throughout California.
This partnership not only validated our approach but also significantly amplified our capacity to serve students across California and beyond. It’s a striking example of how vision, when paired with trust and resources, can scale to create lasting change and improve the mental wellness of thousands of students, families, and school staff.
You are a successful individual. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
First is meaning-making. I lost my dad when I was nine. Being at such a young age meant I was still forming my ideas of how the world works, what life is, and what’s important. The early loss of my father taught me to find purpose in every endeavor. With meaning-making, you can’t ignore death, and you don’t live life in ignorance. This trait forces us to make meaning of each endeavor and to find contentment and happiness in living out each day. It is not enough in life to experience pleasure and avoid pain.
Next would be appropriate risk-taking. When Wellness Together had our first office building, we had three full workspaces. A larger office with more workspaces became available. When I told one of our team leaders that I was going to sign a lease for more space, they said they’d quit if I took on the cost and risk of an additional 500 square feet. I stayed committed to the vision of scaling the organization to support more people. There have been a lot of moments like this where I envisioned the future and took small steps to see it realized. Sometimes as a leader, even when people tell you to do the safe thing, you have to decide for yourself to go just outside your comfort zone and do what you think is best, even when it’s unpopular. You don’t have to take big, scary risks for the sake of thrill-seeking though. Consistently taking incremental, appropriate risks along the way can create the future you are hoping for.
Finally, it’s important to be mission-focused instead of ego-driven. Being fiercely mission-focused allows you to lead unapologetically with bold humility toward an idea that is bigger than any one person. The meaning and the mission will last longer than anyone, ensuring the work we do transcends individual achievement. Being mission-focused gives others a sense of ownership and shared purpose.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview about mental wellness mastery. What is one often-overlooked daily habit that can significantly improve one’s mental wellness?
Meditation can be helpful. Reflecting on how we are living out a chosen purpose is transformative. We ask a lot of “how” questions to deal with the difficulties of life — we need to know how to do things, how to make money, how to keep our jobs, and how to move forward in life. We may often sacrifice the more important “why” questions in the name of productivity and efficiency. Find some time every day to align your “how” with your “why.” When our daily actions are aligned with our chosen purpose, life takes on new meaning.
How do you recommend individuals recalibrate their mental wellness after experiencing a significant setback or failure?
We are great at getting the things we want but terrible at getting what we really need. We need each other, especially in challenging times. Pain is more bearable when we walk through it with others. I cannot overstate the importance of the healing power of relationships and the value of knowing your “why.” Decades of research show us that living out our “why” is most fulfilling in deep connection with others. Don’t wait until you have experienced a considerable setback or failure to invest in your close relationships.
In your experience, what is a common misconception about mental health that hinders people from seeking help or improving their wellness?
There are three myths that we often live by that make us less happy, less fulfilled, and prevent us from seeking help.
Myth one: Everyone else has it all together.
This myth leads us to believe that other people are happier and are experiencing something better in life. Social media content presents us with a fake and unattainable reality. When we compare our inner thoughts, feelings, and views of ourselves with the unrealistic outsides of others, disappointment is inevitable.
Myth two: We should be happy.
We believe we should be happy because we can go to a store and buy what we need (or not even leave the house to get something we want), but humans are more than the sum of what we consume. Happiness is not the baseline for humans. If someone were happy all the time, that would be a problem. Letting go of any expectation of how we “should” be feeling removes the unnecessary guilt and shame.
Myth three: Avoid pain at all costs.
Pain is something everyone experiences. Our brains help us stay safe and survive. So innately it’s easy for us to believe that pain should be avoided. But pain can be a very helpful message to keep us safe or to let us know when we’re experiencing something dangerous. We often ignore this message by distracting ourselves with endless scrolling, working too much, or doing something risky and/or pleasurable to avoid the pain in the short term. Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist said it best as it relates to the message of pain, “Avoid avoiding.” If we allow ourselves to feel the pain of loneliness and not avoid it, it can be a great reminder to reach out to someone we love. Accepting pain as a helpful message allows us to experience it and move through it.
Can you share a transformative moment or client story that highlights the power of a specific mental wellness strategy?
I was facilitating mental wellness training for executive leaders at a large company, equipping them with tools to excel at work while maintaining balance. I was sharing how this success and balance happen when we live out our chosen purpose in meaningful relationships with others. In this very competitive environment surrounded by high-performing leaders, someone vulnerably shared, “I just don’t think I can get to that place. How can I consider my why when I’m constantly reacting to the things in my life that demand my attention? How can I find balance?” It was clear that they weren’t the only person in the room with this question. My response was, “Balance is found in the space between our thoughts and our actions. When we make a habit of pausing to reflect if our actions align with our core values, we can show up fully present to ourselves and those around us.”
We often feel like we don’t have the luxury of spending time in that place. Because of that, we spend less time there and more time feeling like we are on a treadmill that we can’t get off. The how question in our lives becomes the star and the why questions are not seen as vital. That’s why it’s important to take a brief second before choosing how to respond and consider if our actions are moving us closer to what is most important to us.
Based on your experience and research, can you please share “5 Everyday Life Hacks For Optimal Mental Wellness?”
1 . Recognize unhelpful narratives.
The stories we tell ourselves determine our behavior. For example, “If I don’t make a lot of money, then I am not a valuable person.” A narrative like this can cause us to over-prioritize work when we would be happier spending time with loved ones.
2 . Reflect on the unhelpful narrative without judgment.
Continuing the previous example, if we tell ourselves, “I’m not valuable unless I make a lot of money,” or “My self-worth is dependent on how many likes and followers I have,” then these stories will determine our behavior. Even the things that matter most to us will be ignored or forgotten when we believe these kinds of unhelpful narratives. After spotting them, take a moment to zoom out, observe the motivations and beliefs under the actions, and let compassion and empathy displace any judgment, shame, and embarrassment we may feel in this process. We all have unhelpful narratives, but they lose power when we label them as unhelpful barriers to living out our why.
3 . Reconnect by taking the first step toward what is most important to us.
Take a small step in the opposite direction of the unhelpful narrative. If what is most important to you is spending time with loved ones, a good first step could be to place your device(s) in another room so that you can be fully present with those you love.
4 . Prioritize Relationships.
Low-effort high-pleasure activities like endless scrolling or binge-watching are like eating candy for every meal. The calories may keep us alive, but we will feel sick. Our close relationships are like vegetable gardens that require significant effort and attention to give us what we need for a happy and healthy life. Schedule phone dates every week to talk with a friend or family member. Therapists can be a great resource to help tend to our relationships.
5 . Be a part of something bigger than ourselves.
Find a community that has a shared common purpose. This could be a volunteer organization, fitness classes, a sports team, a place of worship, a support group, or a book club. When our needs for connection and meaning are being met, we are less anxious, have fewer distractions, and enjoy life more.
What role does technology play in mental wellness today, and how can individuals leverage it positively without exacerbating mental health issues?
Let technology be the icing on the cake. Let it be something to use as a tool and don’t allow it to manipulate you to serve the goals of those behind the technology. Be mindful of the ways you use it. Studies have shown even the presence of a phone in a room during a conversation can impact the quality of the conversation because others in the room may be distracted by the possibility of an interruption by text or phone call. Then use technology to further your goals or mission. Technology should enhance, not dictate, our lives. It’s vital to use it as a tool for achieving our goals instead of a means of avoidance or distraction.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
In 1990, 3% of Americans reported having zero close relationships. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, it had quadrupled to 12%. That’s about 40 million lonely Americans.
I would start a movement for everyone to have at least two best friends. This would significantly reduce loneliness and mental health challenges. We would all experience belonging, connection, and meaning if we were deeply connected to at least two other people. I want people to look to their right and to their left and see someone who’s going through life with them. Life’s joys and challenges take on new meaning and purpose when we experience them together.
How can our readers further follow you online?
You can tune in weekly for new episodes of the This Helps podcast wherever you find your podcasts and follow me on Instagram at MrMarlonMorgan and on LinkedIn at Marlon Morgan. You can also visit www.wellnesstogether.org to learn more about our nonprofit mental health services and programs for your schools, workplaces, and communities.
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
About The Interviewer: Eden Gold, is a youth speaker, keynote speaker, founder of the online program Life After High School, and host of the Real Life Adulting Podcast. Being America’s rising force for positive change, Eden is a catalyst for change in shaping the future of education. With a lifelong mission of impacting the lives of 1 billion young adults, Eden serves as a practical guide, aiding young adults in honing their self-confidence, challenging societal conventions, and crafting a strategic roadmap towards the fulfilling lives they envision.
Do you need a dynamic speaker, or want to learn more about Eden’s programs? Click here: https://bit.ly/EdenGold
Mental Wellness Mastery: Mental Health Expert Marlon Morgan Of Wellness Together On Everyday Life… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.