Twelve billion working days are lost every year due to depression and anxiety alone, based on numbers from the World Health Organization. While great strides are being made to initiate conversations and grow awareness of mental health, there’s still more that can be done. Mental health directly affects physical health—as well as the ability to get things done efficiently and accurately—which is essential to any business.

How Bad Is the Situation?

Most of us will go to the doctor when we feel sick, but many people brush off prolonged periods of worry or sadness. A study done in late 2022 by Gallup found that workers with poor mental health miss four times more work than those who don’t struggle with this challenge. The report goes on to say, “this missed work is estimated to cost the economy $47.6 billion annually in lost productivity.” Yeah, that’s how bad it is. Our takeaway from this? We still have room to improve.

Three Tips to Being a Mental Health Advocate

1. 1. Offer mental health coverage

      Take a look at the mental health benefits you already offer. Do you have an Employee Assistance Program? Does your telemedicine provider offer mental health visits? Do you offer free access to commonly used apps like Calm or Headspace?

      Along with the programs offered above, your medical plans likely have mental health coverage for inpatient and outpatient services. This may also be a good time to consider a dedicated behavioral health program, such as Ginger, which offers coaching and therapy for your employees.

      There are plenty of benefits out there that can provide mental health support, even in indirect ways. For example, a Wellness Program can get your employees moving, which can improve their mood and positively impact their mental health. Once you take a step back to see the big picture, it’s a lot easier to see how you can better support your employees.

   2. Talk about your mental health benefits

      Providing mental health benefits alone is not enough—you also need to tell your employees about them. The Gallup study found that 33% of employees don’t know if they even have mental health support services through their job. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to fix that—boost your communications game.

      Send out communications throughout the year that touch on the benefits you offer. Create a postcard or newsletter campaign, make entertaining video shorts, or even make mental health benefits front and center in your Open Enrollment materials. Your employees won’t be able to utilize benefits they don’t know about.

   3. Create a culture of openness

      Undo the stigma of mental health with a healthy workplace culture. Mental health is just as important as physical health, but for many, it can be embarrassing to admit to struggling with an emotional issue—especially to a boss or colleague. But getting support for mental health is vital to our total well-being.

      Look for ways to lead by example, through open dialog, compassion, and support. Encourage social networking, avoid using negative stereotypes, and allow room for schedule flexibility. Small changes and a show of support can vastly improve the mental health of your employees.

   The Takeaway

   You can make a positive impact on your employees and their families by providing mental health benefits, talking about available resources, and creating a safe environment for those impacted by mental health challenges. Not only will their lives improve, but you’ll be able to reap the benefits of a more engaged and active workforce.

   Need help getting the word out about the great mental health benefits your company offers? We’re here to help.

   Want to learn how to build a better mental health communication strategy. Click here.