“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
Storytelling has the power to make us feel supported and help us heal. To uplift, connect, and empower us mentally and emotionally. Stories have the power to bring hope, resilience, and the resolve to create a better world for women and for everyone, including women navigating stress, burnout, and mental health challenges at work and at home.
Beginning March 1, Women’s History Month 2023 celebrates the “women who tell our stories.” It’s a time to honor women—past and present—who illuminate the human experience and support us in powerful ways through all forms of art and media, including stories that center women’s mental health, identity, and a sense of belonging.
As mental health disparities grow, women’s stories have never been more important for women’s mental health and resilience
There’s never been a more important time to elevate women’s voices and stories to lift up others and improve mental well-being—and to prioritize women’s mental health at work, at home, and in the community. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study, half of women—and nearly two-thirds of women 18 to 25—said they’ve needed mental health support in the past two years, while just 35% of men have.
Our Calm 2023 Workplace Mental Health Trends Report shows similar mental health disparities. Women told us they took less care of their mental health after becoming a caregiver, while men took better care of themselves. And just one-third of female parents believe their workplace culture is supportive of their mental health, while nearly half of men do. These disparities underscore how urgently employers need to center women’s mental health in their workforce well-being strategies.
Calm mental well-being resources featuring women storytellers to support women’s mental health
In honor of Women’s History Month this year, we’ve curated a selection of Calm’s mental health content featuring powerful women storytellers who reflect diverse women’s experiences and mental health journeys. These resources can help employees and families reduce stress and anxiousness, get better sleep, build resilience, and improve their emotional and mental well-being. HR, benefits, and people leaders can share this content in Women’s History Month campaigns and year-round women’s mental health initiatives to make support easier to discover and use.
Fall asleep to these women storytellers’ voices
- Dreaming with Frida narrated by Emily Rios
Listeners journey into the fantastic world of the legendary surrealist painter Frida Kahlo at home in 1940s Mexico. The story is narrated by Emily Rios, a Mexican American actress known for cutting-edge independent films and TV stories. In 2022, the Human Rights Campaign honored Rios as a role model and change maker for the LGBTA+ community, naming her a recipient of the Visibility Award. This Calm Sleep Story can serve as a soothing nighttime ritual for women seeking gentle support for their mental health and rest. - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, narrated by Cassandra Campbell
Cassandra Campbell shares the story of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy from chapter one of this 19th-century coming-of-age classic by American novelist Louisa May Alcott. Campbell is a prolific voice-over artist and a member of Audible’s Narrator Hall of Fame. For women balancing work, family, and caregiving, revisiting this classic story can offer a comforting reminder of connection, resilience, and shared emotional experience. - Women of Water narrated by Lourdes Faberes
Listeners experience the four seasons of stunning Jeju Island and the magic of South Korean female free-divers. Narrator Lourdes Faberes is a British actress best known for her role as Pollution in the TV series Good Omens. On the London stage, she has starred in the title role of Tamburlaine in Tamburlaine the Great for Arcola Theatre and in Shakespeare’s Globe production of Richard II. This immersive story can help women pause, breathe, and momentarily step away from daily stressors to support their mental well-being. - Slowing Down narrated by Tabitha Brown
Narrator Tabitha Brown inspires listeners to find their own path while leading them on a heartening walk through the North Carolina forest. Brown is an actress and social media influencer who draws viewers into her online content world by combining humor, veganism, compassion, and motivational speaking. She’s been described as “America’s mom” for her wholesome, comedic personality and creative yet simple recipes. For women feeling stretched thin, this story can be a gentle reminder to slow down and care for their mental health, one small moment at a time.
Reduce your stress and become a mindful manager
- Breathe Into It with Camila Cabello
Global superstar Camila Cabello’s ride to success hasn’t always been smooth. In her exclusive series Breathe Into It, she helps listeners reduce stress and anxiety through never-before-told stories.
With her debut solo album CAMILA, the Cuban-born singer-songwriter reached the #1 spot on the Hot 100, Billboard 200, and Artist 100 charts in the same week and was nominated for two Grammy Awards, including “Best Pop Vocal Album” and “Best Pop Solo Performance.” Women employees can listen to this series between meetings or after work as a flexible way to manage anxious thoughts and protect their mental health.
- Mindful Leadership with Megan Reitz
Megan Reitz helps managers better regulate their emotions and create a less stressful work environment. Reitz is a Professor of Leadership and Dialogue at Hult International Business School, where she speaks, researches, and consults on the intersection of leadership, change, dialogue, and mindfulness. She is the author of Dialogue in Organizations,Mind Time,and Speak Up. Her research explores the links between mindfulness and leadership capacities for the 21st century. HR, benefits, and learning teams can incorporate this series into leadership development offerings that focus on supporting women’s mental health and psychologically safe workplaces.
Find your sanctuary with music
- The storm before the calm by Alanis Morissette
Composed during the pandemic to serve as a companion during reflection or meditation, the storm before the calm is a vast sanctuary-like set of wordless ambient music. Each track has a theme—e.g., Heart-Power of a Soft Heart—inviting the listener to focus on a “felt sense,” according to Morissette.
Since 1995, Alanis Morissette has been one of the most influential singer-songwriter musicians in contemporary music. Her deeply expressive music and performances have earned immense critical praise and seven Grammy Awards. Morissette is an avid supporter of mental health, female empowerment, and spiritual and physical wellness. Employers can feature this music in quiet rooms, well-being days, or on internal resource pages as part of broader women’s mental health and self-care support.
This Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate and honor women storytellers, who are a vital force in our culture and an essential part of advancing women’s mental health and emotional well-being. Employers can bring their voices and stories forward to help support the well-being of women, families, and the whole workforce. HR, benefits, and people teams can spotlight Calm Health’s women storytellers in internal communications, benefits portals, and women’s mental health campaigns to make it easier for women employees and their families to discover and use these resources.
