Balancing Act: Catherine Harrison’s Journey to Mental Health Advocacy

Written By Valiski Bernard

*Catherine Harrison (Photo by Lauren Howe)*

We spend more time at work than we realize—over a third of our waking hours, in fact. With such a large part of our lives dedicated to our jobs, prioritizing mental health is essential. A healthy mind not only boosts productivity but also fosters creativity and satisfaction in the workplace.

Catherine Harrison, a seasoned leader in the corporate world, has dedicated her career to improving mental health literacy and championing psychological safety at work. With over three decades in the pharmaceutical industry and subsequent business consulting, Catherine brings a wealth of expertise in leadership, education, and coaching. Her personal experiences and deep understanding of human-centred practices have fueled her mission to create workplaces that are inclusive, supportive, and sustainable.

Throughout her career, Catherine recognized a critical gap: the well-being of employees was often overshadowed by business goals. This realization sparked a desire to foster success that balanced high performance with mental health, allowing individuals to thrive both professionally and personally. The concept she envisioned became Revelios, a venture designed to shift workplace culture and place mental health at the forefront of organizational success.

Armed with a master’s degree in psychology and an extensive understanding of organizational dynamics, Catherine launched Revelios to challenge traditional workplace practices. Her goal is to empower leaders and employees alike to prioritize mental health through what she calls the "Three A's": Awareness, Agency, and Accountability. Through courageous and bold conversations, she encourages companies to make psychological safety a priority, crafting environments where people feel genuinely supported and capable. For Catherine, mental health advocacy goes beyond addressing crises; it’s about building a culture where mental well-being is integral to every organization’s success.

Catherine’s journey is a powerful example of the impact that awareness, intentional leadership, and the influence one person can have on transforming lives and workplaces. Her unwavering commitment to democratizing mental health literacy continues to shape her career, inspiring change in the communities she serves. In this blog, we explore the pillars of Catherine's work: workplace mental health, human-centred leadership, and personal empowerment.

The Journey to Revelios

Catherine’s decision to launch Revelios stemmed from her leadership experience and a growing awareness of the need for mental health support in the workplace. Throughout her years in pharmaceuticals and consulting, she observed a troubling pattern: organizations often overlooked employee well-being in their pursuit of high performance. Witnessing a surge in mental health discussions post-COVID, Catherine formalized her expertise by earning a master’s degree in psychology, focusing on workplace mental health, particularly for young professionals. This academic journey laid the foundation for Revelios, a company dedicated to integrating mental health into business strategies.

“My focus has been the educating, advising, and coaching the development of human-centred leadership practices throughout an organization. This is really about balancing high performance with the necessary support of human well-being. In my practice, there has always been an element of mindfulness, mental health, and psychological safety. My old company name and strategy needed to be adjusted, so I launched a new entity, Revelios. Which comes from the French word “reveiller” or “to wake up”... think of it as waking up your inner operating system (Revel-IOS). The icon in the logo refers to thinking outside the box when it comes to mental health. I also completed a research practicum about mental health in the music industry and it continues to be an area of specialty for me.”

Through Revelios, Catherine’s approach focuses on how organizations can embrace mental health through Awareness, Agency, and Accountability, encouraging them to shift from stigmatizing mental health to embracing a holistic, proactive approach. Her work is not just about addressing crises but helping people take ownership of their mental well-being, and teaching leaders how to create psychologically safe workplaces.

“This means democratizing and improving mental health literacy, destigmatizing the subject, having courageous conversations, aligning values and actions, and moving beyond EAP (Employee Assistance Programmes) and yoga passes as a mental health strategy. Moving mental health into the daily experience of workers, and including the need to perform while doing so.”

Changing the Conversation on Mental Health

One of Catherine’s biggest challenges is addressing the lack of mental health literacy in workplaces. Many people conflate mental health with mental illness, creating a limited, binary perspective. Catherine advocates for a more nuanced understanding, promoting good mental health, preventing deterioration, and supporting those in crisis. Though the cultural shift she envisions will take time, her research and advocacy are helping companies to see what their employees truly need.

“Primarily, it is simply a lack of literacy and awareness - ask 10 people to define mental health and you’ll get 10 different answers. Also, usually people think “mental illness” when you say mental health. We want to move away from the binary, either/or nature of the discussion, talk about the normal continuum of mental health, and how we can promote good mental health, prevent worsening of sub-optimal mental health, and support those in acute crises. Often, when I suggest exploring mental health strategy, it’s directed to H.R. and they think it fits under their EAP program. It doesn’t. We’re hoping our recent research will help illuminate the gap between what companies say is working and what their employees say they need. It’s a cultural mindset shift. That takes time.”

Mastering the Art of Balance

With multiple ventures on the go, Catherine emphasizes the importance of balance in maintaining her mental well-being. She attributes her success in this area to self-awareness, intentional planning, and learning to say no. Recognizing her limits allows her to prioritize self-care and avoid burnout.

“When I get involved in too many things, I feel stretched thin. That’s when I need to reconnect with the basics—nutrition, rest, movement, positive connections, joy—and realize that most things I stress about don’t really matter,” she shares. "I love being involved with lot of different activities. But I’ve learned to listen to myself, say no to non-essentials, and maintain a balance. It’s all about noticing when I need to slow down or pick up the pace."

Catherine’s philosophy on empowerment centres on setting boundaries and recognizing the value of intentional self-care. Planning downtime ensures she doesn’t sacrifice rest, underscoring her commitment to mental wellness.

“I’ve always been involved in many things at once and thrive on multi-layered experiences. I love finding synergies across modalities and activities. I have learned to notice my signals of ‘doing too much’ and quickly adjust by saying ‘no’ to all the nice-to-do’s. And there are a lot of nice-to-do’s that we think are must-do’s! At this age and stage, I can prioritize my own well-being pretty easily. It’s all about awareness and noticing when I feel I need to slow down, time out, or get going. I plan downtime when my schedule is busy. You will often see “nap” on my work agenda. I don’t mess around with my rest!”

Redefining Success

For Catherine, success is rooted not just in financial metrics but in creative self-expression, authenticity, and making a positive impact. Through her leadership coaching, she finds deep satisfaction in helping leaders prioritize mental health, drive meaningful performance, and create psychologically safe workplaces. Watching clients grow in self-awareness and transform their leadership styles is one of her greatest rewards.

“I find meaning in most of my work, but a few leadership coaching clients come to mind. These were senior leaders I worked with to increase their mental health literacy, self-awareness, and developed a toolkit that they could use to be better human-centred leaders, and create high-performance and psychologically safe work spaces. Their journeys of enlightenment and noticeable, measurable change was cool to be part of.

I feel financially independent and successful, though if I measured success purely by money, I’d fall short compared to many of my peers," she reflects. "I enjoy freedom, creativity, and a low tolerance for unnecessary rigidity. My genuine curiosity is both innate and cultivated, driving me to explore situations deeply and make thoughtful decisions."

Catherine’s growth mindset is a pillar of her approach. She’s driven to challenge herself, learn from her experiences, and inspire others with her insights.

"I make mistakes and I approach each as a learning opportunity. I love sharing my insights with others, always seeking to understand the connections between ideas, history, and people.

I can be a jerk just like anyone else. I can get stressed out just like anyone else. I make mistakes and fall down like anyone else. I’m my own test subject! I love learning and sharing what I learn with others. I’m deeply curious and love exploring the relationship between things, ideas, history, politics, places, and people.

I’m a blip on the timeline of humanity. I likely won’t leave a lasting legacy like a huge company or brand. I do hope I bring joy, support, love, laughter, challenge, and encouragement to those I interact with in this life.”

A Legacy of Positive Impact

Catherine’s ultimate goal is to make a positive difference in the world. She strives to inspire others to prioritize mental health, embrace authenticity and compassion, and support those around them. She hopes her work creates a ripple effect of change, encouraging others to lead lives of intention and empathy.

“I know I’ve made a positive difference in the lives of many - clients, mentees, staff, colleagues. I also feel that my current work of democratizing mental health literacy and supporting people in creating their own mental health toolkits, having more agency and accountability for their own well-being, is very satisfying and meaningful.”

“The healthier the community, the healthier its members. If you want a good life, support those around you and the environment where you live. Align your actions with your values, listen, learn, and reflect”

Looking Ahead

Catherine’s work continues to evolve. She’s currently the lead author on a groundbreaking mental health survey in the Canadian music industry, launched in September 2024. This project, rooted in her master’s research and honed through her industry experience, promises important insights into mental, physical, and social well-being. She’s also set to publish research later this year that explores the relationship between human-centred leadership practices and young professionals’ well-being at work.

One Last Piece of Advice from Catherine

“You have more agency than you might think. Reconnect with your intuition, your body, and your soul. Put down the phone, connect meaningfully, move, rest, laugh, and play. This is it, folks!”

As Catherine continues to break down the stigma surrounding mental health, she serves as an inspiration to all. Her dedication to building a compassionate, supportive world is a testament to the power of human connection and the essential role of mental well-being.