The pressures employees face today are intense: uncertainty over the pandemic, financial stressors, anxiety about social divides, struggles to balance work and life in a remote work world—all weigh on employees and bleed into the workplace.  When employee mental health suffers, the entire organization is at risk.  According to the Center for Prevention and Health, mental illness and substance abuse issues cost employers up to $105 billion every year, a stark statistic that has employers rightfully concerned and strategizing for how to improve employee mental health.

While organizations can do little to quell the global issues causing employees stress, they can control how the company helps them handle it.  Here are three strategies for how to improve employee mental health:

1. Give workers autonomy and flexibility

Anxiety, stress, and burnout often stem from a common place: a lack of control.  When employees feel that they’re not in control of their own lives, mental health can spiral.  Especially given the external, uncontrollable pressures so many employees are facing today, it’s important for employers to give them as much autonomy as possible.  That could mean letting people decide if they want to work remotely, in person, or in a hybrid situation, as well as offering flexibility so they can work the hours that fit best with their lives in this upside down world we find ourselves in. Visit one of our other posts to learn how to create an effective and equitable hybrid workplace.

2. Holistic health – help your whole employee

Mental health is influenced by a variety of factors, so employers concerned with how to improve employee health should focus on providing holistic resources.  For instance, discounted gym memberships, meditation or yoga apps, assistance with financial education, and access to free health screening tools can all help employees address the multi-faceted elements affecting their mental health.  When it comes to today’s unique challenges, subsidies for childcare, stipends for going remote work technologies, and access to pay-on-demand allow employers to go above and beyond to meet their workers’ evolving mental health needs.

3. Destigmatize mental health issues

One of the biggest challenges in supporting employee mental health is breaking down the stigma around mental health struggles.  While employees likely wouldn’t think twice about taking sick time for the flu, few are inclined to do the same when their mental health is suffering.  Employers, led by HR and other business leaders, need to take the lead and open up the conversation around mental health as so many employees feel burnt out and stress is affecting their performance.  Even though many workers are remote today, through virtual town halls, social media campaigns, and on the company internal communication systems, leaders can raise awareness about the need for self-care, even sharing personal stories with mental health challenges to put a face to the issue.

Employers looking to learn how to improve employee mental health can make important strides in supporting their workforce with these strategies.  When workers are given some control over their environment, access to comprehensive support services, and trust that they’re working for an organization that understands how important mental health is, they can be empowered to overcome mental health challenges and give their best to their employer.

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