May is mental health awareness month

Authentic leadership, a sense of purpose, can help employees thrive

May is Mental Health Awareness month—a time to focus on deepening our understanding about the full spectrum of psychological experiences for ourselves and those we care about. Significant strides have been made to emphasize and prioritize psychological health in the workplace, communicate openly about it, and improve the pathways that support our dynamic psychological selves. At Deloitte, we believe a psychologically-informed culture can impact how our people show up in the world—both personally and professionally. In my own experience, showing authentic leadership and cultivating a sense of purpose are two ways to demonstrate our commitment to support mental health in the workplace.

Showing up authentically can empower others to do the same

It is unrealistic to expect everyone to have a perfect day, every day. And professionals who are not adequately supported in their mental health might go through periods where they are unable to bring their best self to work. In those circumstances, there are often several factors at play that may require time and care outside the workplace. When such situations arise, it is important that people feel supported in seeking the professional help they need. I have found that leaders and teams can be critical catalysts in creating environments within the workplace where people feel comfortable showing up as their authentic selves. This can make them more willing to share their challenges and embrace psychological health resources. It starts with authentic leadership.

It can be difficult to lead and connect with others if you are not willing to put yourself out there first and be authentic. Being authentic means feeling comfortable with your own vulnerabilities. Authentic leaders are willing to share their aspirations and their fears, their mistakes, and their triumphs. I have found that the more vulnerable I am with my colleagues and teams, the more vulnerable they are with me and with each other. Vulnerability can be a virtuous cycle. What starts as one person opening up could lead to one more, and another, and another. Over time, this can transform the entire culture of a team or organization. People should be able to come in to work every day and not feel like they have to compartmentalize or hide things that they might be going through. They should be able to find understanding and support in accessing a range of resources to help in whatever challenge they may be facing—from sustaining strong psychological health, navigating a temporary struggle, or recovering from a significant illness. Fostering this type of environment can help people thrive.

Everyone needs meaning and purpose

For many years, I have been a caregiver for a family member who suffers from depression and anxiety. I have been involved throughout their care—from joining doctors’ appointments to being the person they turn to for help in serious situations. Caring for this individual throughout my life has helped me practice empathy while understanding that people cannot control how they feel. As a trained accountant (and not a trained therapist), I often struggled with how to make a difference in this relative’s life. I will always remember when a doctor pulled me aside and emphasized to me the importance of meaning and purpose in helping my relative thrive. This was an ‘ah-ha’ moment for me. And I have found this to be true not just for my relative, but for others as well.

Years ago, people often saw their job as solely a necessity for having a roof over their head and food on the table. Today, many of us want more from our job than just a paycheck. We want to create an impact and feel fulfilled, in part because we spend more time doing our jobs than just about anything else. A sense of purpose can be difficult to define because it tends to be different for everyone. This sense of purpose could be related to the work they do, the impact they have on co-workers, or their involvement in the community. Whatever it may be, finding purpose—by creating impacts that matter—can be a vital component to our mental health and sense of well-being.

Leaders have an opportunity to share their journey on finding meaning and purpose in the organization, and to help their team members define and understand their purpose. When leaders acknowledge and prioritize purpose as a central tenet of their leadership strategy, it sets a tone for the culture of the organization. Employees who understand their meaning and purpose are more likely to present the best version of themselves each day.

Take care of one another

In an ideal world, everyone would wake up in the morning with an understanding of their purpose, show up authentically, and believe in their ability to impact others and drive change. The reality is that we should work at this every day—individually and collectively. Mental Health Awareness month is a time to reflect on and revitalize our shared commitment to mental health, especially in the workplace. This means empowering employees to bring their whole selves to work, and providing access to resources that meet their needs and help them perform at their best—from paid leave to psychological health resources to professional development opportunities. Let’s use this month as an inspiration and a call to continue to take care of one another, encourage the use of professional resources when needed, and do our part to foster environments for people, organizations, and communities to thrive now and into the future.

Originally published on May 2, 2024.

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