How to support mental health in the workplace

As an employer, supporting your employees’ mental health is essential to keeping your team healthy and happy. It can also help to increase retention and productivity and decrease absenteeism, so it can directly affect your business. Here’s what the research says about the importance of supporting employee mental health, as well as some ways you can contribute to positive mental health outcomes for each member of your team.

Why is it important to support mental health in the workplace?

Supporting your employees’ mental health leads to a healthier, more engaged team for a variety of reasons. Here are just a few of the main reasons why employers should take active measures to support their employees’ mental health:

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental health is a critical part of worker well-being and is central to overall health.
• According to the World Health Organization, without proper support, mental disorders and other mental health conditions can affect an employee’s confidence and identity at work, their productivity, and their attendance at work.
• According to Johns Hopkins University, when employees are psychologically healthy, they tend to be more motivated, engaged, and productive. They are also more likely to be creative and innovative and contribute positively to their organisation’s success.
• 92% of employees surveyed in the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Work in America Survey said it is important to them to work for an organisation that provides support for employee mental health and that values their emotional and psychological well-being.

How can employers support employee mental health and well-being?

When you’re putting measures in place to help support your employees’ mental health, focus on these key areas first:

1. Provide coverage for mental healthcare benefits. When you’re selecting a group health insurance plan, choose one that includes coverage for a variety of mental healthcare services, including psychiatric visits and individual or group therapy from qualified psychologists, counselors, and therapists. If you’re looking for a new group health insurance provider, contact BF&M to find out about the mental health benefits included with our plans.
2. Prioritise work-life balance. When it comes to supporting employee mental health and preventing burnout, encouraging proper work-life balance from the top down is key. There are several ways you can promote work-life balance as an employer, from offering flexible work arrangements to setting boundaries around working hours and after-hours communication.
3. Normalise open conversations about mental health. Encourage leaders to openly discuss mental health and check in with their team members to make mental well-being a routine part of conversations at work. This can help to reduce stigma and encourage employees to feel comfortable speaking up about their mental health and take care of their own needs.
4. Lead by example. If a leader is comfortable disclosing within their team that they are dealing with a difficult time or taking a mental health day, for example, it might help open the door for other employees to share their own struggles or take a mental health day when they need it.
5. Implement wellness programmes and organise activities that can help to reduce stress during the workday. Promote overall wellness across your team by organising stress-reducing group activities, such as mindfulness exercises, yoga or stretching sessions, walking meetings, and exercise programmes. 

These are just a few of the ways employers can help to foster a workplace culture that supports employees’ mental well-being, leading to a happier, healthier team overall. If your organisation has a group health insurance plan with BF&M, look out for our monthly LiveWell emails for more ways to promote wellness in your workplace, including wellness challenges, educational programmes, and healthy habits programmes focused on topics like nutrition, stress management, and physical activity. We’re your partner in workplace wellness, and we’re here to help.

Learn more about the wellness benefits included with group health insurance from BF&M >