4 Common-Sense Ways To Champion Mental Health At Work

After 16 months on the emotional roller coaster of a worldwide pandemic, the time has come to step off the ride—and assess the damage to our mental health.

Unsurprisingly, the stress has taken a toll on workers of all ages. The recent Travelers Mental Wellness Checkup, a national survey of 2,000 employed adults across more than ten industries, found that most respondents reported a negative effect on their mental health since the pandemic began in 2020: 59% have worried about losing a loved one, 50% have suffered from loneliness and 37% said their level of personal stress has worsened. Millennials, in particular, continue to suffer from feelings of loneliness and depression.

Another study by Alight found that 46% of Gen-Z employees reported a decline in their mental health due to the pandemic. Financial stress also has inordinately impacted this generation, with nearly half (47%) being furloughed at some point in 2020, compared to just under 1 in 3 of all employees. They’re taking on side hustles to increase income—as of January, 43% of Gen Z employees had worked an additional job, and 71% did so due to the fallout of the pandemic. Gen-Z is also the generation most likely to seek counseling.

“Health is a biopsychosocial concept encompassing physical, mental and social well-being, and supporting employees’ mental health can be as critical as creating a safe physical environment,” says Dr. Marcos Iglesias, Vice President and Chief Medical Director at Travelers. “Taking a broader view of employee health to include emotional and social wellness can help employees manage uncertainty, engage in the workplace and adjust to a ‘new normal.’”

The good news, says Iglesias, is that employers can develop a strategy of prevention, identification and intervention to mitigate the negative health effects of the new normal and to enhance the wellbeing of the working population. Here are four common-sense strategies to go about it.

1. Communicate often and well

When little or no information is forthcoming, wondering and worrying are most people’s default response. Employers must do their best to keep employees in the loop regarding both reopening plans and the financial health of the business—while also getting them engaged in coming up with the solutions to their shared challenges.

“It is important for employees to know what to expect as they return to the workplace,” says Iglesias. “That can help remove some of the uncertainty and reassure employees that you have their best interest in mind. Frequent, honest communication is going to win the game.”

2. Watch for the warning signs

While many employees are eager to return to work, others may have a harder time reentering the workplace. “It’s important for supervisors to identify employees who may be dealing with mental health issues, connecting them to resources and handling accommodation requests,” says Iglesias.

Companies can also look into the action steps suggested by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to help promote mental health and stress management. Offering mental health self-assessment tools, providing free or subsidized clinical screening for depression from a qualified mental health provider and hosting workshops that address depression and stress management techniques are all ways that employers can make a difference in this vital area.

Read more