Prioritizing mental health at work

After more than a year of loss and isolation, employees’ mental health has worsened, and now workplaces are feeling the effects. #TrendingNow

I want to tell a workplace story about an employee’s mental health issue but I am worried about privacy. And that’s the challenge. While businesses are told to create cultures that support and prioritize their employees mental health, there are many challenges to doing it well. There is still so much stigma around mental illness and this creates fears that divulging any challenges might impact how we are seen, treated, and even promoted. And the fears are not unfounded. Stigma means too many people remain uninformed, misinformed, and ignorant of the complexities and realities of mental illness. And there is no excuse anymore. All of the information and guidance exists if we seek it out and prioritizing mental health requires more than just words. We have to do better and it begins with the leadership. Leaders must educate themselves. They need to self reflect and have others help assess whether their teams and workplaces promote mental health and well-being or not. There is no neutral with mental health. But there is a trajectory of growth. Leaders can commit in word and deed to addressing mental health better today compared to yesterday. The pandemic has made everyone feel more vulnerable and fragile with mental health issues significantly increasing. The time is right to prioritize mental health for all. #mentalhealth

According to Axios, mental health is a top concern for employers in 2021. But this isn't a new issue - the mental health crisis has been ongoing for years in the U.S., and mental health issues can't simply be left at the door when going to work. Fortunately, there are ways employers can help. Communicating clearly, offering empathy, paying attention and understanding intersectionality can all make your employees feel more supported at work and help them access the resources they need. Read more: https://bit.ly/3CQpNSR #mentalhealth #workplacehealth #leadership

Employees' mental health is quickly becoming a top concern for companies as they try to hold on to workers through the pandemic. Why it matters:?The firms that confront mental health are poised to win the war for talent. https://lnkd.in/dA34YD8u

"31% of U.S. employers say workforce mental health is having a severe or significant financial impact on the company, up from just 20% in March 2020." -- What steps have you taken to help employees, front line leaders and your team deal with this on-going and escalating issue? #workplacehealth #mentalhealth #employeeengagement https://lnkd.in/dGQ6VBGZ