Mental Health at Workplace - Office of the US surgeon General Framework

Work is one of the most vital parts of life, powerfully shaping our health, wealth, and well-being.

At its best, work provides us the ability to support ourselves and our loved ones, and can also provide us with a sense of meaning, opportunities for growth, and a community. When people thrive at work, they are more likely to feel physically and mentally healthy overall, and to contribute positively to their workplace.

This creates both a responsibility and unique opportunity for leaders to create workplace environments that support the health and well-being of workers.

While many challenges outside the workplace may impact well-being—from economic inequality, food insecurity, and housing insecurity to household, educational, and medical burden—there are still many ways that organizations can function as engines for mental health and well-being.

Office of the US surgeon General has identified Five Essentials for Workplace Mental Health & Well Being

Protection from Harm

• Prioritize workplace physical and psychological safety
• Enable adequate rest
• Normalize and support mental health

Connection & Community

• Create cultures of inclusion and belonging
• Cultivate trusted relationships
• Foster collaboration and teamwork

Work-Life Harmony

• Provide more autonomy over how work is done
• Make schedules as flexible and predictable as possible
• Increase access to paid leave
• Respect boundaries between work and non-work time

Mattering at Work

• Provide a living wage
• Engage workers in workplace decisions
• Build a culture of gratitude and recognition
• Connect individual work with organizational mission

Connection & Community

• Create cultures of inclusion and belonging
• Cultivate trusted relationships
• Foster collaboration and teamwork Opportunity for Growth
• Offer quality training, education, and mentoring
• Foster clear, equitable pathways for career advancement
• Ensure relevant, reciprocal feedback