With decades of first-hand experience, Stéphane Grenier is a pioneer in addressing mental health in the workplace. After a remarkable 30-year military career, with service in Lebanon, Haiti, Kuwait, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Kandahar, Afghanistan, he founded Mental Health Innovations (MHI), a consultancy dedicated to provoking game-changing action to address mental health at work. He has since worked with organizations across all sectors to transform their corporate culture to ensure a healthier and more productive workplace.
Grenier doesn’t just talk the talk; he walks the walk. As the CEO of MHI, he exclusively employs individuals who have grappled with mental health issues. This, combined with his own mental health struggles that brought him perilously close to the brink of suicide, has imbued him with a profound understanding of this prevalent issue in our society. His insights are deeply personal and profoundly transformative.
Throughout his extensive career, Grenier has worked closely with a variety of organizations across industries to equip them with innovative, “outside-the-box” solutions that challenge the status quo. He is also the architect of national guidelines for peer support, which have set new standards for compassionate care and support. As testaments to his extraordinary contributions to the mental health landscape, Grenier has been honoured with the Order of Canada and bestowed with two honorary Doctor of Laws degrees.
Grenier’s work transcends the clinical realm. He advocates for a culture of compassion and support, enriching the lives of individuals from all walks of life. His memoir, After the War: Surviving PTSD and Changing Mental Health Culture, narrates his riveting journey from the Rwandan genocide to reshaping workplace culture to prioritize mental health, with a special emphasis on rehumanizing the recovery process.