Here's what to say to employees struggling with their mental health

MENTAL HEALTH: Nearly 76% of employees say they are still struggling with at least one symptom related to a mental health condition like #anxiety, #depression or PTSD, up 17% from 2020 rates, according to a report by the U.S. Surgeon General. A September survey by Gallup found that employees who rate their mental health as "fair" or "poor," miss four times as many days of work than those with better mental health.?

"I know it's hard to know how to do it, but reaching out to employees and having that human-to-human moment of saying, 'Hey, it seems like something is going on, I wanted to check in.' That gives them permission to say, 'You know, I am struggling,'" says Dr. LaToya Smith, a licensed mental health counselor and professor at Palo Alto University.?She shares important red flags to recognize, and how employers should respond:

Read: How to support employees who are struggling with their mental health

OUTSOURCING: As the ongoing hiring frenzy has cooled down, employers are increasingly looking to outsource certain roles. Is your position at risk?? Outsource Accelerator , a consultancy job marketplace, analyzed the most popular search terms related to outsourcing and found roles in HR,?IT, marketing, sales and software development are in high demand.?The U.S. has the highest percentage of outsourced jobs in the world, with almost 68% of companies delegating their services.?

Read: 5 jobs U.S. employers plan to outsource

HEALTH AND WELLNESS: What do many people do when they're stressed? They turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms like tobacco use. Tobacco use has negative repercussions for employers -- absenteeism and lost productivity from smoke breaks have a direct and measurable impact on productivity. Finding an effective way to quit using tobacco is within reach, and the workplace is a great place to start. Benefits managers who connect quitting tobacco and reducing stress have a promising opportunity to make a difference for their employees, ultimately minimizing stress for the entire team.?

Read: A good kind of quitting: Addressing nicotine use in the workplace

DEI: Don't miss this month's New and Noteworthy spotlight: The Truth About DEI. Employers think their DEI efforts are great; employees rarely feel the same. EBN takes a data-driven approach to explore the disconnect — and shine a light on the inclusion policies that actually work.

Read: The Truth About DEI