An interview with Luke Reynolds, a University of Washington Bothell accounting student, on mental health in the world of tax accounting and how he plans to apply his new skills in Mental Health First Aid certification in his career.
By Nathan West, Viet Tran, Kevin Yi, and Saranya Yanamandra, University of Washington Bothell School of Business
Content Warning: This blog contains content about suicide.
On a mild weathered day in April, we sat down over Zoom with Luke Reynolds, UW Bothell accounting student, to talk about his experience in getting certified in Adult Mental Health First Aid as a tax accountant intern. As we joined in, we noticed Luke wearing a white crew neck t-shirt in a neat, white background of a University of Washington, Bothell dorm study room. The study room consisted of plain white walls, a green and blue fabric chair, and warm yellow lights. As he began to speak about his recent training in mental health first aid, he appeared to be a caring individual who spoke in a calm and genuine tone about his experience as a tax accountant intern, full-time student, and part-time volunteer.
Luke began to share his experience learning the Mental Health First Aid program, and how he plans to use it in the future.
As an accounting intern, you are around many people that experience severe depression and burnout. Can you tell us a little bit more about your experience?
LR: Just seeing the amount of effort that accountants put into their work to get everything done exposed me to an intense, work life that I’ve never seen before. It’s typical for accountants to be working 60, 65, or more hours a week during the busy seasons, which there are a few throughout the year.
How do you prioritize your responsibilities when your workload starts to be overwhelming?
LR: I’m not a full-time accountant right now, but a part-time intern, full-time student. I’m an officer for Beta Alpha Psi, so at this time of year, I’m trying to wrap up annual financial reports for the chapter, and then I also am wedding planning and doing so much more, so I’ve been very busy, and I’ve understood the burnout. And just on top of that, also being a volunteer adds to those hours that I’m working every week. When I feel overwhelmed, I pause for a moment to breathe and gather my thoughts. When doing so, I conceptualize a plan, and begin on the spot. I am someone who likes to get things done sooner than later so jumping on a pile of work is my method to slowly break down a heavy workload.
What is something you would look for as a warning sign or symptom in a coworker?
LR: Accounting is one of those professions where you have to dress up well. It can be really noticeable when someone [a coworker] shows up in jeans or a t-shirt, and you think to yourself, whoa, that’s not normal [referring to sudden unexplained change in grooming standards].
Above is a graphic of the MHFA ALGEE action plan, which Luke stated was central to MHFA training.
How would you approach them [a struggling coworker]? What did you mention when you said how you would approach them?
LR: I think just going somewhere that you can privately speak, and having it be away from your work mentality, or from a public area, like your cubicle, I would say is the best way to approach it. It’s the best because people don’t want to share sensitive information to a crowd of people. Making sure to give space for them can really help them open up and not feel overwhelmed.
[You mentioned earlier], listen non-judgmentally. What would that look like for you in an office or work setting?
LR: I would say that I have a problem where I accidentally chime in when someone’s in the middle of a sentence, because it pops up in my head and I want to share it, I would suggest not doing that. I would say, just make sure that you are being as quiet for as long as necessary. If they need to keep talking, just let them get things out, and when they want a response is when you should provide it instead of cutting them off.
What would you do to give reassurance and information?
LR: I think this is a part where giving reassurance and information, where you talk about just things to comfort them, and let them know that you’re there for them, maybe like, if you need help getting to somewhere, I could be your ride. But I would also say, for giving reassurance and information that this is also a part where you can ask if they are suicidal. It’s something that I learned from the training, is that it’s not a bad thing, which I thought initially before the class, that it would be a weird thing to ask, but it might actually open the doorway to letting someone open up, and you never know what they’re willing to share until you ask.
NAMI has an article on how to ask difficult questions about suicide and the tips on how to respond.
One way that you would do so is offering a ride [to mental health appointments]. Are there any other ways that you could encourage professional help?
LR: 988 is one, the hotline [for suicide and crisis]. I could also just sit down with them and see how they are doing. In the firm, we have insurance through the firm, so we can see what options there are through the provided insurances. I also would promote just going on silent walks, where you’re not constantly distracted by all of the normal distractions of life, like your phone, but leave your phone at home and go on walks.
And then you talked about encouraging appropriate self-help strategies. What are self-help strategies that you would recommend?
LR: I always will suggest exercise, whatever it is hiking, or weight training, or anything of that sort. I would just bring up that it’s something that I do, and I don’t know if it’ll benefit them, but it’s something to try.
For your self-care, what are the people, places, and practices that you would do?
LR: I really love nature. I like going out to lakes, the woods, and the mountains. That’s my escape. It’s also just what I like to do on weekends when they’re free. And then I would just go to my fiance. She’s my best friend, there’s a reason that I want to marry her, she’s the one I can always talk to. So, I think just finding someone that you’re able to talk to is the best way to get things off your shoulders. When I am feeling down, these hobbies bring me peace and help clear my mind.
Luke shared with us that hanging out with his golden retriever out in nature is a favorite way for him to exercise self care strategies.
As a future manager/accountant, how would you change the stoic culture so that coworkers feel safe being vulnerable before reaching a “disheveled” state?
LR: I would say it’s just due to the traditional experience of “in-office” work. Accountants have always been permanently in office until Covid. I believe covid proved we can still be productive when working at home and the firms holding onto the in office method are just holding on to what has been normal for them. I would say to someone who opposes it, if the work is getting done, and the employee is more happy due to it, why not? A happier employee is one that is less likely to lead to turnover.
How can you positively impact your future office with these new skills?
LR: I want to bring a more upbeat mood to the office. I want to do this by being outgoing and greeting my coworkers each day, suggesting that the day doesn’t have to be as gloomy as tax season says it does. I would also prepare to be ready to listen, speak unashamed about struggles, and be ready to provide suggestions and help.
Our interview with Luke underlines the importance of promoting effective mental health support and self-help within ourselves and our communities. Particularly high-stress workplace environments that can often lead to burnout, like accounting; it is vital to approach this matter privately because of the sensitive nature, and giving space to help them open up to avoid overwhelming them. Luke’s desire to create a more upbeat and supportive work environment serves as a powerful reminder to us that we can make a difference.
From this interview with Luke, we learned that burnout and stress are very common in the accounting profession and often go unnoticed, especially for college students entering the workforce. According to the NAMI’s 2026 workplace mental health poll, 52% of employees reported burnout in 2024, and 90% of employees believe that mental health care benefits are important for fostering a positive workplace culture. It is vital to be aware of burnout and stress, as working conditions can be extremely harsh. Activities like self-care, going on walk, exercising, flexible schedule, group activities, and daily checkup are some of the ways to foster an upbeat environment that improves morale for accountants, leading to increased performance in all aspects. Statistics from Higher Ed Dive show that over 4 in 5 students experience burnout during their undergraduate years, and 80% say they are worried about burnout once they enter their professions.
Knowing the signs, such as mental and emotional exhaustion, loss of motivation, increased irritability, and reduced productivity, can make an early difference. A simple check-in can mean way more than you think. With Luke’s interview illustrating how commonplace stress and burnout are in occupations such as accounting, students are often so focused on performance and career achievements that they lose track of their mental health. Luke reminded us that achieving success should not come at the expense of one’s personal health and well-being, and his comment that creating an environment where employees feel supported in speaking out about stress is also critical.
We would like to thank the University of Washington Bothell Campus Writing Center for their help on this piece, especially Nya Maddox. We’d also like to thank Luke Reynolds for this interview.