Even years after the COVID-19 pandemic and the social unrest it precipitated, employees across the board are facing increased levels of emotional turmoil and stress.
What can you do to support employees while respecting the financial expectations of your C-Suite?
Prioritize the mental health and wellbeing of your workforce. Failing to address these feelings head-on can lead to more severe and debilitating mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and PTSD. These can lead to lower productivity, workplace conflict, and burnout.
Through proactive measures such as employee assistance programs (EAPs), personalized mental health resources, training and education, and mindful leadership practices, employers can create a workplace culture that prioritizes emotional health.
Why Employers Should Prioritize Mental Health
The American Psychological Association published a study completed in 2023 showing 92% of workers say it is important to them to work for an organization that values their emotional and psychological wellbeing and provides support for employee mental health.
In a complementary study by Willis Towers Watson, 63% of employers recognized the critical importance of providing access to top-tier mental health solutions for their employees. These findings underscore a growing awareness within the business community of the significance of prioritizing mental health support.
In May, we recognized National Mental Health Awareness Month, and at Personify Health, we’re committed to continuing the conversation about mental health. It’s an important topic for us, and we are dedicated to addressing it candidly and openly.
We all face different challenges throughout our lives, and in the last year, these challenges seemed to multiply.
Many of us had to adapt to new work-life situations, cope with job losses, or even, tragically, the loss of loved ones. While remote work offers many benefits, it can also lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
It’s encouraging to see many employers recognizing the importance of supporting mental health. Not only does this benefit employees, but it’s also just the right thing to do. Providing treatment for psychosocial issues improves wellbeing and leads to lower healthcare costs, increased productivity, and decreased absenteeism and disability.
In this series, we’ll delve into the strategies employers are using to raise awareness about mental health and support their workforce. By prioritizing mental health, companies are not only fostering a healthier workplace but also creating a more resilient and engaged team.
A Focus on Behavioral Health
Understanding the link between behaviors and overall well-being is essential for nurturing the body, mind, and spirit. From eating well and staying hydrated to regular exercise, our everyday behaviors significantly impact both physical and mental health.
Making adjustments to our behaviors and mindset can serve as a powerful tool in navigating challenging circumstances. Throughout the pandemic, experts emphasized the importance of self-care practices, highlighting how even small habits can greatly influence our perspective.
Recognizing the significance of mental well-being, many health plans offered access to digital behavioral health solutions, including mobile mindfulness apps. These tools acted as gentle guides for remote workers, providing reminders to prioritize healthy habits such as mindful breathing, gratitude practice, maintaining regular sleep patterns, and engaging in stress-reducing activities like meditation.
In addition, some employers offered reimbursement for home-based fitness programs, recognizing the stress-relieving benefits of exercise, no matter where it takes place. Home-based exercise continues to be a convenient and effective way for employees to incorporate fitness into their daily routines.
Keep Communication Channels Open
It’s good to encourage open communication when addressing mental health challenges.
The shame and stigma surrounding mental illness often create barriers for those seeking help. People may fear the dismissive “get over it” responses, hindering them from opening up about their struggles and seeking necessary treatment.
Interestingly, one result of the pandemic has been a positive trend towards normalizing mental health discussions. With the shared experience of stress and emotional turmoil over the past few years, individuals are becoming more open to addressing mental health concerns without the previous stigmas attached.
In response, many companies and leaders have adopted an inclusive approach, encouraging honest conversations about mental well-being.
By promoting a supportive environment, companies are breaking down barriers to seeking help.
Leaders are setting the tone by practicing healthy habits and advocating for mental health support, such as encouraging breaks, discussing work-life balance, and prioritizing self-care to prevent burnout.
Companies are investing in manager training to ensure they are equipped to support their employees effectively as they transition back to the workplace. This training empowers managers to identify signs of distress and engage in compassionate, boundary-respecting conversations with their team members.
Education on EAPs and Other Benefits
Are your employees clueless about some of the benefits available to them through your health plan?
Many employees remain in the dark about valuable benefits available to them, including Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and digital mental health resources. Because they aren’t familiar with them, they’re less likely to take advantage of them.
In response, employers should proactively share information to remind their teams about these vital services. Employees should be offered guidance on how to access EAPs virtually and be empowered to discuss mental and emotional well-being concerns, including those related to work stress, grief, or family issues.
Keep your communications clear and accessible, with easy-to-find website and phone number information. Overall, these efforts will help your team feel well-supported and confident in navigating challenging times.
By promoting increased awareness of EAPs and mental health resources, employers are taking an important step towards creating healthy work environments and prioritizing the holistic wellbeing of their teams.