As HR professionals and other business leaders work to help employees navigate the COVID pandemic, benefits advisors can be a key resource in helping them chart the path forward. 

But while there are many ways in which employers and their broker partners can assess and understand employees' needs and make informed decisions about resources and benefits, it's imperative that those systems, tools and partners are held to a high standard. "It's on us as advisors, HR directors and employers to pressure test what we have in place and be real about what we're using and whether it's working," says Dennis Hartin, president of Hartin Dynamics. 

He adds that while there are a growing number of ways to approach the issues presented by the pandemic, the key is to first figure out the specific problems for each employer. 

Hartin notes that three major challenges exist when it comes to solving mental health issues: stigma, lack of awareness and access to care. Like so much in the benefits and health care space these days, the key to moving forward lies in innovation, adaptability and teamwork. 

Listen to Dennis Hartin and Editor-in-chief Paul Wilson talk about the complicated issues surrounding mental health, financial wellness and overall well-being, as well as practical ways in which benefits advisors, business leaders and other partners can work together to create benefits strategies and company cultures that set employees up to succeed. 

Click here to listen to other Supporting Mental Health During Challenging Times Podcasts.