Wellness that works: Best practices to aid employees in their mental health journeys

Only by clearly communicating and normalizing the signs of mental health conditions and promoting these resources will employers be able to create a more productive, less stressed workplace.

There’s no shortage of research that shows mental health struggles took rise in the COVID-19 pandemic. One standout study from Lancet of 204 countries revealed an additional 53 million cases of major depressive disorder and 76 million cases of anxiety disorders in 2020 were due to the pandemic. With such alarming numbers being reported, the world took notice and addressing mental health was placed near the top of the international agenda. The World Health Organization (WHO) released a historic report that noted “for a large proportion of the global population, mental health and work are integrally intertwined” and that mental health can impact productivity, performance, employee retention and work safety.

Now, the stigma around workplace mental health seems to be abating due to increasing openness around the topic. Although awareness is a great first step, it must be backed with action in order to create lasting change in the workplace. Employers are steadily filling the gaps in their benefits programs to address mental health. However, a 2022 Gallup report shows 50% of U.S. employees still suffer from work-related stress and only 33% of U.S. employees feel engaged in their work and workplace.