"Go Slow to Go Fast"
My hidden disability changed everything
The Wellbeing Tortoise was born out of my lived experience of disability, my mental health problems, my ongoing journey of recovery, and my desire to spark change in the workplace.
After acquiring a hidden disability following a ski accident and corresponding brain injury, I became passionate about making mental health and disability awareness a priority for organisations and helping individuals acquire skills and tools to support themselves.
Director
Jen Rooney (she/her)
Hi, I’m Jen. I’m a Canadian living in London. In 2016, I suffered a brain injury from a ski accident, and in 2018, I had a relapse in my recovery. Following an extended sickness absence, I decided I didn’t want anyone else to be in the same position that I was in – insecure about my future, scared about my physical health, silent about my mental health problems, and unaware of what support existed.
That’s why I created The Wellbeing Tortoise. I am here so that other people don’t feel as alone as I did. I am working to change the conversation, so people feel comfortable speaking openly about their mental health, physical health and visible and hidden disabilities to family, friends, colleagues, managers, and employers.
My experience of acquiring a disability, learning new ways of working, embracing adaptive technology, and deeply examining my mental and physical health, has shown me how little I knew before. So often, we want to support the people around us but we just don’t know how. I am here to change that. I will show you how. I want to help you figure out what is best for you, your team and your organisation.
How it Began
I have a habit, or had a habit, of pushing myself too fast in my recovery and landing back in my dark, silent room. I would play a game of Snakes and Ladders with myself and jump two steps forward only to slide back ten. So, my dad and primary carer at the time, started to tell me to “go slow to go fast“. A varsity hockey player in his day, he knew first hand the importance of taking small steps to get back in the rink and encouraged me to build patience and be more like the tortoise, and less like the hare.
So, the tortoise has become my ongoing symbol of recovery. In many cultures the tortoise represents longevity, wisdom, perseverance, and fortitude. I was struck by how much these ideas resonated with me and my experience of recovery. Believing in these representations and reiterating "go slow to go fast" gets me through my difficult days and helps me appreciate my good ones.
Vision
I want people to know how to support themselves. I want employers and managers to know how to support their people. And, I want everyone to view the people they work with as individuals, with unique experiences and backgrounds, to be compassionate, and take action to support each other. I want to eliminate ‘I don’t know what to do,’ or ‘I don’t know what to say,’ from people’s vocabulary. I am here to build awareness, defeat stigma, and inspire change.
Company Aims
- Encourage managers to ask questions, listen, and offer support.
- Increase managers' and leaders' confidence to initiate a conversation about mental health and disability.
- Empower individuals to support themselves and access support.
- Inspire people to consider perspectives and experiences different from their own.
- Enable organisations to implement proactive support for their employees.
Inclusion and accessibility are at the centre of everything I do. I want people to feel that their voices and concerns are heard and their holistic needs met. There cannot be true wellbeing without inclusion and accessibility.
All my sessions are interactive and incorporate elements of knowledge and awareness building as well as practical tools, techniques & resources that participants can take away and use in the workplace.
Experience
I am the Director and Founder of The Wellbeing Tortoise. I started my career in musical theatre but returned to university to complete a Masters in Human Rights where I focused on the wellbeing of refugees and migrants. I then transitioned to a Junior Partner at a Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility consultancy, and began my mental health and disability inclusion work after acquiring a brain injury and hidden disability.
My theatrical skills, lived experience and my background delivering this work to a diverse group of clients ensures that my sessions are engaging, dynamic, relevant and practical. I have delivered training to and consulted for small non-profits and start-ups including Breaking Barriers and Virtuoso and large organisations including Deloitte, The Cabinet Office, and South Western Railway.
I am passionate about using my lived experience to inspire others to become better allies and promote more inclusive spaces wherever they are.