Every no protects your yes: A mental health conversation at G2E 2025
Fitness Instructor Kendall Toole shared her journey toward a healthier work life.
Key Points
- Preserving mental health means saying no or referring others to those who can better help them, panelists said
- Toole also answered questions from the audience and gave helpful tips on how to help family members suffering from depression
A recent morning panel discussion at this week’s Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas centered on the topic of cultivating good mental health within the gaming industry.
Top fitness instructor and NKO Club Founder Kendall Toole led the conversation, along with moderator Meghan Speranzo, who serves as the Sip & Social Chair, Global Gaming Women.
Speranzo said corporate life can be challenging today and shared that she understands this well as a single mother and gaming industry leader.
Toole agreed and shared a little about her mental health journey with the audience. She recalled her battle with depression and suicidal thoughts when she was in her 20s.
Part of the discussion included asking why many people automatically respond that they are “fine” when asked how they are doing.
According to Toole, this response can often mean someone is dealing with issues they are not comfortable with sharing. She said the common answer of saying fine when someone asks how you are needs to change.
Toole also expressed the importance of honesty and transparency when speaking with others. She said there was nothing wrong with telling someone else “you’re having a bad day.”
Toole and Speranzo took time to discuss boundaries as well in the panel. Both agreed that taking on too much can have negative effects on someone’s mental wellbeing.
“No doesn’t mean that you don’t care,” Toole said. “No protects your care. You are allowed to say no to certain things, and you can say no kindly.”
She added, “We’re not the right person to solve every problem.”
Near the end of the session, Speranzo presented some questions from the audience, including one asking for advice on how to help loved ones who might be struggling with depression.
“You want to treat them as you would treat a bird with a broken wing,” Toole said. “The growth is going to be on the other side of this, so it’s really just sitting with them.”
She added that trying to fix things for someone else usually does not work and advised being available for whatever a loved one needs is the best way to help.
“Sometimes it’s not just saying anything. It’s just sitting with them and being present,” Toole said. “It’s not about the words of encouragement all the time. It’s just knowing that you’re present.”
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