Mental health should be a top priority for all employers
Poor mental health is a serious crisis facing Americans, and America’s employers must urgently identify and prioritize solutions.
More than 50 million Americans face mental health issues each year, according to a recent study by USA Today.
Anxiety tops the list as the most commonly reported mental health concern, which is understandable due to the state of the economy and the precarious nature of the workforce. Massive layoffs, combined with rising costs of living, job insecurity, accumulating debt, and worries about international crises and events such as the Ukraine war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, have left millions of Americans suffering from anxiety and depression. I’m depressed. The latter is his second most commonly reported mental illness.
Unfortunately, more than half of this number, an astonishing 28 million Americans, do not receive treatment to support their mental health.
Among the reasons cited most often was cost.
In addition to affordability, reasons why these people may not receive the help they need to support their mental health include:
- I don’t know where to turn for help
- believe that they can handle it on their own
- Not enough time to focus on mental health
Mental health in the workplace
The shocking results of this study highlight, more than ever, the grave responsibility placed on employers.
Interestingly, a 2023 peer-reviewed medical study found that low-income mothers who suffer from depression are less likely to suffer from depression even though they are allowed flexible work policies and greater autonomy over their work (part-time, remote work, etc.). Nevertheless, they were found to be at higher risk of absenteeism at work. , ending micromanagement practices) has been demonstrated to have a positive impact on workplace productivity and performance.
As a leader or manager, one of your team members could be part of the 50 million people who are struggling with their mental health, or worse, the 28 million who don’t have mental health support.
By developing a strong mental health and wellbeing strategy, establishing mental health focus days and embedding daily practices throughout your processes and work routines, you can ensure that all employees feel supported, no matter their condition. It is your responsibility to actively support your employees so that they can You need to create a psychologically safe space so that team members feel free to speak up and not suffer in silence. This includes paying attention to pay policies and flexible working arrangements.
Beyond these solutions, encouraging the use of mental health apps is also one way to provide mental health support. Because it literally puts the power of wellness right at the doorstep of your team members. These can help remove the “lack of time” barrier to maintaining mental health.
However, while empowering your employees with mental health apps is not a substitute for actual treatment or professional advice, it can be helpful to address minor issues and complement the support you receive from mental health professionals. It is important to remember that it helps.
mental health app
- headspace—This is one of the most popular apps for meditation, sleep, and stress relief.
- better help therapy—This app allows you to access video calls and live chats with your personal therapist after completing a few basic questions.
- insight timer—A free app that provides access to a library of thousands of guided meditations, live events, courses, and soothing music. Some features are not free.
- Calm— for guided meditations and sleep stories.
- mind shift—This is an evidence-based CBT therapy app to help manage anxiety.
- UCLA Mindful App– Provides mindfulness exercises from the UCLA Center for Mindful Awareness Research.
How to encourage employees to use mental health apps
Encouraging and supporting the mental health of your employees will benefit you as an employer in the long term. Increase productivity, reduce sick leave, and contribute to an overall positive work environment.
Here are some effective strategies you can use to engage your team members and encourage them to use mental health apps.
1. Host a training session
You can host workshops and training sessions to educate employees about the importance of managing their mental health and the benefits of using mental health apps, external experts, and in-house trainers. Use this as an opportunity to inform your users and also explain the features and functionality of the different apps available.
2. Offer subsidized subscriptions
In addition to EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs), including discounts, subsidized subscriptions, and even subscriptions as part of your benefits package can help reduce the risks employees face when seeking mental health support. It helps remove certain financial barriers.
3. Personalized 1-2-1 support from your manager
Weekly or monthly performance reviews and appraisals not only discuss an employee’s physical and external performance, but also discuss how the employee feels about their workload, especially in high-stress and high-pressure roles. This is a great opportunity to check if you are there. , and what support may be needed from you or the company.
You can use this as an opportunity to make personalized recommendations for mental health apps and activities that suit your lifestyle and goals, while enhancing the existing support available through your EAP and other services.
Without psychological safety, team performance plummets
Show your employees that you truly care about them by making their health a top priority. As Simon Sinek once said, “Our employees are people, not just bureaucrats.”
