{"id":112286,"date":"2025-08-06T14:15:28","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T14:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/?post_type=news&p=112286"},"modified":"2025-08-06T14:15:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T14:15:28","slug":"stephen-simmang-urges-a-shift-toward-everyday-mental-wellness","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/news\/stephen-simmang-urges-a-shift-toward-everyday-mental-wellness\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Simmang Urges a Shift Toward Everyday Mental Wellness"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Wellness Leader Calls for Simpler Daily Practices to Manage Stress and Build Emotional Strength<\/div>\n

Entrepreneur and wellness advocate\u00a0Stephen Simmang<\/a>\u00a0is encouraging individuals and communities to reexamine how they approach mental health. Drawing from his own career shift, from insurance to emotional wellness, Simmang is raising awareness about the value of simple, consistent mental health habits that individuals can start on their own.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re surrounded by information and tools,\u201d says Simmang. \u201cBut the real work starts when we slow down and get quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why Emotional Health Can\u2019t Wait<\/p>\n

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that depression is now the leading cause of disability worldwide. And stress? Nearly 77% of Americans say it affects their physical health, according to The American Institute of Stress.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cMental health is not a niche issue,\u201d says Simmang. \u201cIt\u2019s the foundation of everything\u2014how we parent, how we lead, how we relate to others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stephen believes prevention and regulation should come before crisis response\u2014and that those habits can start small.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to be complicated,\u201d he adds. \u201cYou don\u2019t need a diagnosis to care for your mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Insurance to Insight<\/p>\n

Stephen began his career helping design wellness plans for major insurance providers, including Gallagher. But over time, he became increasingly aware of the gaps in reactive healthcare systems. \u201cI was helping people access care,\u201d he says. \u201cBut I wanted to help them avoid needing it in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n

That shift led to the founding of Prioritize Wellness in 2018 and Kale Diagnostics in 2022. At Kale, Simmang helped scale a company that blended lab testing, data, and personalized care for long-term health.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to understand the whole person\u2014not just symptoms,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

But as the company grew, Stephen felt another change coming.<\/p>\n

A Personal Turn Toward Mindfulness<\/p>\n

After stepping back from his role at Kale, Simmang began focusing on emotional regulation, mindfulness, and mental clarity.<\/p>\n

\u201cMindfulness wasn\u2019t a strategy\u2014it was survival,\u201d he says. \u201cJournaling and breathwork helped me think clearly in the middle of real challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n

These practices weren\u2019t part of a product roadmap\u2014they were daily tools he used himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m overwhelmed, I step back. I breathe. I ask myself what really matters,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Now, he\u2019s turning those tools into a mobile app designed to help others develop nervous system awareness, reduce stress, and build inner stability. The app is currently in development and will be shared on his website:\u00a0stephensimmang.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Supporting Mental Health for All<\/p>\n

Simmang also supports several mental health organizations that reflect his values:<\/p>\n