At American Riviera Bank, supporting our team members goes beyond providing meaningful careers. We are committed to fostering a workplace where people feel valued, connected, and empowered to bring their best selves to work every day.
That commitment is one of the reasons we designated 2026 as our Year of Mental Health. The initiative was inspired by employee feedback gathered through our annual DEI survey, which revealed a strong interest in topics related to mental health, stress management, anxiety, and overall well-being. Rather than treating mental health as a one-time conversation, the committee launched a year-long initiative designed to increase awareness, encourage meaningful dialogue, reduce stigma, and provide practical tools team members could use in their everyday lives.
Throughout the year, team members were invited to participate in educational workshops, wellness activities, and discussions focused on mental health and well-being. A cornerstone of the initiative was a three-part workshop series led by Dr. Pati Montojo of UC Santa Barbara, which explored managing stress and emotional labor, building resilience through healthy boundaries and work-life balance, and strengthening communication within close-knit teams. Participants gained practical tools for navigating workplace challenges, managing stress, and supporting their own well-being.
To complement the educational component of the program, the DEI Committee launched a series of Summer Mental Health Activities, supplemental activities aimed at helping team members explore different approaches to well-being while building connections with colleagues across the organization. The goal was simple: create opportunities for team members to step away from the demands of daily life, try something new with other team members in a safe space, and discover practical tools that support the mental health skills they learned about.
Throughout the summer, team members participated in a wide variety of experiences designed to support wellness in different ways. Outdoor activities encouraged movement, fresh air, and connection with nature through opportunities such as kayaking adventures, e-bike rides, hikes, and nature walks. These experiences provided a chance for team members to unplug, recharge, and spend time together outside of the workplace.
The program also introduced team members to wellness practices that can be incorporated into everyday life. Participants explored journaling, mindfulness, HeartMath breathing techniques, sound bath experiences, and creative activities such as Zentangle drawing and still seeing photography. These sessions provided practical strategies for managing stress, increasing self-awareness, and promoting emotional well-being.
Perhaps most importantly, the Summer Mental Health Activities created opportunities for team members from different departments, offices, and communities to come together through shared experiences. Whether kayaking along the coast, learning a new mindfulness technique, or participating in a wellness workshop, team members were able to strengthen relationships and build connections that extend beyond their everyday work responsibilities.
For the DEI Committee, the Year of Mental Health has always been about more than wellness activities. It is about creating a workplace culture where people feel supported, where conversations about mental health are welcomed, and where team members have access to resources that help them thrive. By combining expert-led education with hands-on experiences, the initiative has encouraged team members to explore the many different paths to well-being while reinforcing the importance of caring for ourselves and one another.
As we continue our Year of Mental Health, we remain committed to creating a workplace culture that supports the whole person. By investing in employee well-being, we are strengthening not only our organization, but also the communities we serve.
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