As family and friends recently paid tribute to Matthew Perry on
the one-year anniversary of his untimely passing, I considered
honoring his memory with a throw-back post about one of my favorite
Friends episodes. But the beloved sitcom star repeatedly
made clear that he wanted to be remembered for far more than his
work in Hollywood. He hoped to first be remembered for his efforts
to help others struggling with addiction—a growing crisis
directly impacting both personal and professional
relationships.
In the years after we came to first know him as Chandler Bing,
Perry opened up about his own difficulties with alcohol and opioid
addiction in hopes of helping others find their own path to
recovery and sobriety. Perry was an individual who opened his own
home to those struggling with addiction, served as an
interventionist and addiction specialist at a sober living
facility, and also testified before Congress about addiction
issues. Perry’s friends and loved ones are working to honor his
legacy by providing hope and a vital lifeline for others.
Last month, the Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada launched with
Perry’s sister spearheading the organization as its executive
director. The Foundation provides housing support, access to mental
health counseling, peer support, career support, training and
placement services, and financial support for individuals in their
first year of recovery. The Foundation also strives to fund
research and advocate for the adoption of novel treatment options.
Additional information about the Foundation’s work is available
at https://www.matthewperryfoundation.ca/.
With the growing crisis of addiction, many employers are also
looking for ways to provide support through employee assistance
programs in furtherance of their drug-free workplace programs.
Unfortunately, despite the growing number of EAP options and
benefits, employers are reporting underutilization of those
services. One of the primary reasons analysts have attributed to
this underutilization is the stigma attached to mental health and
substance abuse issues.
Overcoming shame and fear to ask for help is easier said than
done for many. Indeed, Perry was very open later in life about his
own lonely struggles to overcome a secret addiction even as he
brought laughter and entertainment to our own living
rooms—even as he seemed to have it all. He strived to
counteract the stigma of addiction for others by being open and
vulnerable about his own experiences.
As we often say on this blog, communication with employees is
key. Educating employees about the support options available to
them and making clear that the employer prioritizes individual
mental health can go a long way in cultivating a positive and
supportive work culture. The education piece should begin with the
onboarding process, but human resources teams can provide vital
support for employees by continuing to disseminate information
about the benefits available to them and updates on special
programming. Manager training and ensuring flexibility for
employees using the EAP services are also imperative.
In 2013, People Magazine quoted Perry as saying, “When I
die, I’d like Friends to be listed behind helping
people.” His friends and loved ones are working hard to make
sure that he is remembered just as he wished. His legacy of helping
others and message of hope can provide important lessons for all of
us.
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