Video games have a unique place in storytelling. They allow a type of interactivity that movies and literature cannot provide. I recently subscribed to Apple Arcade and discovered the game, A Fold Apart. The game follows two people in a relationship who are separated by distance due to work. One character moved to the big city for work; the other remained in the town where they met. The game explores how the couple deals with the impact long distance has on their relationship. The game is played using paper as a storytelling instrument: You fold the screen in an origami fashion to connect paths and bridges in order to move the characters forward in their story. The story is told through streams of text messages and thoughts that express the couple emotions. It also shows how miscommunications happen when the couple are limited to text messages. The stories told in A Fold Apart gave me an unexpected insight and ‘unfolded’ the ambience of the Human Resources profession.

I have a question to all HR Professionals who are reading this article right now: Have you ever tried to use your Employer Assistance Program (EAP) through your benefits provider? Not just provided the brochure when asked, or attended a webinar on the benefits package, but actually tried to access the services that are offered through the provider?

I was recently in a position of trying to access mental health services for myself through an EAP, and I have never accessed a more confusing process before. I've administered benefits for hourly employees for over 3000 employees in both Canada and US and was led to believe that these systems were streamlined to be easy to access. I have been experiencing heavy feelings of anxiety and dread lately, and since it persisted for a longer duration than normal, I knew I have to reach out for support. I am thankful that my colleagues, and family recognized the shifts in my behaviour to help me move forward with seeking help.