Part 5: Four Steps to Support Mental Health in the Workplace

May is observed as Mental Health Awareness Month, yet mental health is essential year-round. 

How you think, feel and act can change over time due to workload, stress, and work-life balance, and all can impact your mental health. Although the COVID pandemic has been difficult, its mental toll has allowed for increased transparency and empathy in the area of mental health. Even with these improvements, more openness is required as almost 40 percent of Americans advise that their mental health is worse than before the pandemic. 

Here are four steps companies can take to help employees manage their mental health.

1. Focus on reducing stigma. Support mental health initiatives to provide transparency and openness. Communicate to employees that getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and you’re there to support them. 
2. Educate employees on how to get help. Address concerns when they arise and consider providing managers with a process to follow and resources available to employees as needs arise. 
3. Host a recurring mental wellness forum. This builds on the importance of talking and socializing with a specific purpose to share mental wellness strategies. Employees could share a strategy they read about, heard about, or are using themselves. 
4. Promote your support. Employees who know that their employer is supporting them will be more open about their struggles, more likely to seek help, and more likely to heal quicker.

If you’re struggling with your mental health, you’re not alone. If you have concerns about your mental health, please contact your primary care provider or mental health professional.