Caring for our people: EY and the mental health imperative

The last year has tested all of us in ways no one could have imagined. And as a result, many Americans are experiencing emotional issues, from exhaustion and anxiety to burnout and depression. In fact, nearly 30 percent of U.S. employees now describe themselves as depressed as a result of the pandemic.[1] Even those who are not clinically depressed may be experiencing what Wharton organizational psychologist Adam Grant recently and aptly dubbed “languishing,” a chronic sense of stagnation and emptiness that gets in the way of one’s ability to function at full capacity.

This crisis of uncertainty has exposed that we are all vulnerable. Yet a stigma around mental health and seeking help to overcome emotional challenges persists.

As leaders, it is up to us to normalize discussions about our emotional and mental health, and to recognize that doing so is just the beginning of driving meaningful and enduring change. As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, we need to commit to changing the conversation around mental health and focusing on the total well-being of our people.

At EY, we believe in recognizing the entire being of our people, as well as their families and their unique life experiences and current challenges. We view this as holistic well-being, and it entails supporting the emotional, physical, financial, and social wellness of our people. This means encouraging our people to develop and sustain their physical and mental health, to ensuring that they plan for their financial future—and everything in between.

We offer our professionals a wide range of thoughtful, well-designed resources to make certain that they feel fully supported and valued, every step of the way. Our newest benefit offers up to 25 free counseling sessions for each of our people—which is also available to their family members—and came about because we knew that these times call for more support, more care and compassion and more resources than ever before. 

Available through our EY Assist program, these free, confidential counseling sessions are available virtually from a diverse range of providers, so that our people and their families can find ongoing support from licensed professionals who offer evidence-based treatments that best suit their personal needs and individual style. And they’re coming at a time of increased general demand for mental health support: nearly 30% of psychologists were seeing more patients overall, according to a survey late last year by the American Psychological Association. And nearly three-quarters were seeing more patients with anxiety disorders than before the pandemic.

I’m in awe of some of the personal stories our people are sharing about how this service has helped them through mental health issues by providing resources, support and much-needed counseling.  

And during this time period, when so many of our kids have been out of school and their mental health is suffering, this program has been integral to providing guidance and support to families and their children that desperately need it. I’m impressed with our people for having the courage to seek the help they need. Yet as leaders, we know that even when these essential benefits are made readily available, many people will hesitate to use them for fear of discrimination.

That’s even more reason why we must be part of the solution, by creating awareness around mental health issues, showing empathy and understanding, ensuring safe spaces for courageous conversations, and promoting the availability and usage of benefits that are easily accessible.

We’ve spent the past year implementing new efforts, and our people have taken advantage of daily group counseling sessions, mindfulness drop-in calls, support and back-up care for families and caregivers, programs for improving our quality of sleep, and monetary stipends for wellness products, office and exercise equipment, and more. Most recently, we completed a month-long, firm-wide Recharge challenge designed to empower our 50,000 U.S. professionals to focus on their health and well-being holistically—and thousands of our people participated.

At EY, these programs will not end as we emerge from the pandemic. Our work to destigmatize mental health and support our people’s personal resilience across their many dimensions is ongoing. As we push forward together and deal with the myriad of personal and professional demands that persist, we have, and will continue to focus on resources and support that enable all of our people to thrive so they can truly take care of themselves and those around them. 

[1] https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/2020-03-14-gartner-hr-survey-finds-more-than-one-quarter-of-the-workforce-describes-itself-as-depressed-as-a-result-of-the-covid-19-pandemic