Removing the stigma

Unfortunately, there are still those who attach a stigma to seeking mental health support, but there are a number of ways employers can help break down these barriers:

Open a dialogue — Providing access to mental health benefits is only one piece of the equation. Getting employees to use those benefits is another issue. Company leadership can help here. When managers and leadership openly talk about the importance of mental health, especially their own experiences, it helps to remove the stigma in place. Leaders should have these conversations in a variety of outlets and formats – one-on-one, group settings, etc. – so that it becomes part of the natural discourse (not something to be feared) and give employees space to take care of themselves.
Tie mental health to professional development – Mental health professionals can provide employees with a number of skills needed to help in their professional development – from conflict resolution to stress relief or improving communication skills. These skills not only help with professional development but also give employees the tools they need to navigate their own social and emotional lives, helping them to strengthen their personal mental health. Once employees have been introduced to the mental health providers through professional development, it removes barriers for those same employees to seek support for mental health care if and when needed.
Provide ongoing education — Some employers are utilizing monthly webinars on mental health topics to educate employees about access to care and to encourage participation. These webinars can be recorded so employees can participate live or view later, at a time more convenient for them. Mental health professionals can discuss topics ranging from managing stress to grief and bereavement to parenting – and provide practical tools that will employees manage these situations.
Create peer-to-peer opportunities — Employee support groups (organized and supported by a mental health professional) can provide a safe place for employees to discuss issues and talk about the benefits of mental health care. Many people are hesitant to seek mental health treatment but are willing to join a club or peer group to discuss issues and test the water. Many employee support groups can be in the form of things like book clubs, where the topics of the books being read directly relate to issues employees are wrestling with today – like navigating aging parents/eldercare and the toll it takes on the caregiver or parenting a teenager and the stress resulting from that.

While many are calling for a "return to normal," it's clear that "normal" is not going to look the same as it did pre-COVID. Many companies are shifting to hybrid work environments, people are moving and changing not just jobs but entire careers, and many of the stresses that resulted from the past year are not going away easily.

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Expanding access to mental health care: How employers can (and should) take the lead

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