Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with mental illness. This means that if your company has 200 employees, 40 individuals likely have a mental illness. You also spend about one-third of your life at work, so the workplace can be a key location for activities designed to improve wellbeing among adults. Workplace wellness programs can identify those at risk and connect them to treatment and put in place supports to help people reduce and manage stress. 

Poor mental health and stress can negatively affect employee:

• Job performance and productivity.
• Engagement with one’s work.
• Communication with coworkers.
• Physical capability and daily functioning.

The workplace is an optimal setting to create a culture of health because:

• Communication structures are already in place.
• Programs and policies come from one central team.
• Social support networks are available.
• Employers can offer incentives to reinforce healthy behaviors.
• Employers can use data to track progress and measure the effects.

Action steps employers can take include:

• Make mental health self-assessment tools available to all employees.
• Offer free or subsidized clinical screenings for depression from a qualified mental health professional, followed by directed feedback and clinical referral when appropriate.
• Offer health insurance with no or low out-of-pocket costs for depression medications and mental health counseling.
• Provide free or subsidized lifestyle coaching, counseling, or self-management programs.
• Distribute materials, such as brochures, fliers, and videos, to all employees about the signs and symptoms of poor mental health and opportunities for treatment.

Additional resources for employers: 
CDC Mental Health In The Workplace
NAMI: Why Employers Need To Talk About Mental Illness In The Workplace
SHRM: Supporting Mental Health in the Post-Pandemic Workplace

Additional resources for employees: 
The New York Times: When Your Job Harms Your Mental Health
How To Be Mentally Healthy At Work
Maintaining Mental Health at Work: How to Care for Yourself in These Stressful Jobs
Disability Resources from the Department of Labor
​Career Guide for People With Disabilities