Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD/ADD, is getting its due in the travel industry.

As clinicians, we’ve learned much about this complex disorder in a relatively short period of time, due to the increased call for better support and understanding in domestic, school, and workplace settings. However, despite increased recognition, we still struggle (particularly in the travel and experiential education industry) to support participants and staff with ADHD.

Meet our Mental Health Team! As the first organization to provide all-inclusive health, safety and risk management services for the travel and experiential education industries, Cornerstone relies on a team of experts. To offer our members customized consultation, advisement, and thought leadership, it takes a professional who can navigate the space between industries.

Today, we’d like to introduce you to our mental health team, compassionate and self-motivated professionals who assist with the ongoing development of training and education, support our members, and develop best practices to keep organizations evolving. We’re fortunate to be joined by a the following individuals with significant industry experience and passion for transformative travel.

You know that being “on-call” is necessary for your travel business.

During peak season, your staff is in the field 24/7. They are constantly working to support participants’ wellbeing, perhaps operating in an unfamiliar environment, handling crises on the ground, and ensuring all the hard work you’ve spent planning your programs is delivered as designed. They’re likely stressed, looking to you for guidance on a variety of issues, and don’t “get away” from the group for personal time nearly enough.

In a recent meeting, many Cornerstone members had questions about supporting seasonal staff with mental health. Particularly given that it’s Mental Health Awareness Month, we wanted to share some of the collective findings from these informal discussions.

Experiential education and travel-based programs offer an intensive, often life-changing learning experiences for both the participants and staff. During these programs, individuals are challenged personally as they reflect upon their core beliefs, encounter stressful travel and social situations, and confront some of our global society's greatest challenges.