Webinar Recap: ‘Best Practices and Strategies to Support Mental Health in the Workplace’

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers nationwide have witnessed the national conversation around mental health in the workplace evolve as quickly as the virus itself.  

With burnout rates and stress levels at near-record highs, the pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges; as a result, many employers have expanded employee benefits options and workplace initiatives to meet employees’ growing demand for strategic solutions.

During the webinar, Mployer Advisor’s Content Marketing Lead, Abbey Dean, spoke with Christopher Genovese, the Vice President of Sales at Wysa, and Janet McCutchen, a Licensed Professional Counselor and EAP (Employee Assistance Programs) Professional.  

Here are a few highlights from the insightful event:

1. Burnout Rates

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies burnout as an “occupational phenomenon or work hazard.” According to WHO, “Burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

The panel cited data to illustrate the degree to which burnout has increased over the past two years. Specifically, 38% of companies with more than 1,000 employees reported that more mental health services were used in 2021 than the year prior. What’s more, panelists also discussed that 61% of employees say their mental health is directly linked to workplace productivity.  

McCutchen noted that burnout can also be particularly damaging to the health and efficiency of businesses across all sizes and industries, because it can affect workers at all levels of an organization–from the C-suite to the ground floor.  

2. Set the Tone

Large-scale, strategic change regarding workplace mental health and wellness begins at the top. Genovese and McCutchen, when discussing best practices to support mental health, underscored the importance of “setting the right tone.” Both speakers also offered specific examples of how this seemingly small strategy could make a tremendous difference, both in destigmatizing the topic and building a company culture that supports all aspects of employee health.  

3. The ROI on Employee Mental Health

One central question posed throughout this webinar asked: “What do employers owe their workforce?” Employee benefits play a significant role in employee longevity and recruiting new talent, but what actions around mental health in the workplace should companies take to protect their enterprise and their employees?  

Context, of course, is critical to consider, and no one workplace may benefit from the same solutions. However, HR (Human Resources) managers, company leaders, and C-suite executives should understand how inaction (or failing to utilize in-house EAP programs or mental health benefits) could affect their bottom line. Lost productivity, increased disability claims, and higher medical costs and health plan spending can dramatically affect the financial health of employers nationwide.  

Eager to learn more? Click here to watch the free, on-demand webinar “Best Practices and Strategies to Support Mental Health in the Workplace.”  

Looking for more exclusive content? Check out what’s trending over on the Mployer Advisor blog, or read on for a primer on the pros and cons of the four-day workweek.  

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