“Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: It is easier to say ‘my tooth is aching’ than to say ‘my heart is broken.’”

Does the above quote from writer C.S. Lewis strike a chord?

According to the National Council for Mental Well Being, one in five adults in the U.S. – a total of 57.8 million people – experience mental illness. Chances are, those who suffer from mental disorders include some of your employees. As you continue to build your positive, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture, you need to keep mental health in mind.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but your commitment to supporting mental health should extend throughout the year.

Creating a Culture that Values Mental Health

Company culture is a powerful tool to encourage healthy habits, both physical and mental, among your team members. When companies focus on destigmatizing mental illness and supporting their employees’ mental health, the result is workplaces where people feel safe and comfortable being their best selves on the job every day.

Steps You Can Take

“There is no normal life that is free of pain. It’s the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth.”

So said TV host Fred Rogers, better known to most as Mr. Rogers. To keep your employees and your company culture healthy and productive, here are ways you can help people in need wrestle with the issues that impede their growth and well-being:

• Actively listen. Listening builds trust. This means managers actively listen to their direct reports and, on a higher corporate level, your company actively listens via surveys and other feedback channels. Some employees won’t feel comfortable raising their mental health concerns in person with their managers, so corporate channels can be critical.
• Give people ways to de-stress. Figure out how to do this in ways that work for your company. What opportunities can you provide for your employees to relax and decompress? Maybe it’s a game room, an on-site gym, or an outdoor walking path. You might offer yoga classes or meditation spaces. Another option: Give employees a certain number of PTO days to volunteer and support their favorite causes. Actively encourage people to take advantage of these opportunities.
• Offer benefits that support mental health. Options include employee assistance programs and flexible work arrangements that allow people to work remotely or adjust their schedules as needed to reduce stress and promote work/life balance.

Want to Learn More about Benefits for Your Organization? KeyHR Can Help!

Are you all for supporting employee mental health, but think you can’t afford to offer the benefits and other means to do so? For an increasing number of companies, partnering with a professional employer organization (PEO) is the solution. To learn more about how working with a PEO could benefit your company, contact KeyHR today.