Summary:

In this relaxed and engaging episode recorded from air loungers at Show Me Con, Timothy De Block catches up with Amanda Berlin from Mental Health Hackers during Mental Health Awareness Month. They discuss the importance of mental health in the IT security industry, which is often fraught with stress and high demands.

Episode Highlights:

Personal Stories of Mental Health: Timothy and Amanda share their personal experiences with mental health challenges, emphasizing the common struggles many face in the IT security field.

Impact of Alcohol: The discussion explores the impact of alcohol on mental health, particularly how it affects sleep and stress levels. They touch upon efforts to create event spaces that offer alternatives to alcohol-centric activities.

Mental Health Hackers: Amanda talks about the work of Mental Health Hackers, a group that attends various conferences to provide spaces for people to relax and decompress.

Fundraising and Awareness: Mention of Mental Health Hackers' new t-shirt campaign designed to promote mental wellness, with proceeds supporting their activities at conferences. You can get T-Shirts here: https://www.customink.com/fundraising/mental-health-awareness-for-mhh

Key Quotes:

"It’s really about awareness... paying attention to how habits like drinking can impact our mental state and sleep." - Timothy De Block

"We need to create environments at events where drinking isn’t the main focus, allowing people to enjoy without the pressure of alcohol." - Amanda Berlin