Organizational leaders are well-positioned to influence a positive culture shift and normalize mental health in the workplace.
America’s mental health is in crisis. Close to two-thirds of adults (63%) said their life has been forever changed by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to APA’s 2022 Stress in America poll. Many reported worse mental health, lower physical activity, disturbed sleep, and increased reliance on unhealthy habits—all of which have an impact on employees’ health and well-being, the workplace environment, and productivity.
Basic care for employees’ psychological well-being is the fundamental expectation—aka table stakes—for today’s competitive and successful businesses.
Equipping workers to manage daily stress and handle the inevitable challenges that affect their mental health costs money, time, and energy. But evidence shows that the cost of failing to support employees’ psychological well-being is often far higher.
By taking strong actions that support employee mental health, employers can facilitate a cultural shift that accepts and elevates help-seeking and other affirmative behaviors. Research shows that these essential programs and policies are vital to these efforts.
Actions you can take
Webinar recording
What You Need to Know About Mental Health Benefits in the Workplace: The Mental Health Parity Law
This information was developed by CEOs Advancing Health Equity, a group of executives from some of the nation’s largest nongovernmental, nonprofit organizations who joined forces during the Covid-19 pandemic to improve health equity. The group has worked on vaccine adoption and a workplace culture shift to address mental health stigma and support employee well-being.