Addressing Mental Health in the Workplace in 2021: Three Ways to Give Support

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on mental health for workers, with many facing additional responsibilities and stressors. Companies have a responsibility to provide mental health resources to support their employees and prevent burnout. There are three key areas to focus on to best support employees.

1. Provide tangible mental health resources to workers

Invest in materials, systems, and services that allow employees to decompress. Examples include counseling sessions and childcare reimbursement. Additionally, providing employees with the tools they need to help with an increased workload can help them be more engaged in the virtual workplace.

2. Invest in workplace mental health training

Almost half of employees want training on mental health in the workplace. Internal comms leaders can work with HR and talent development to provide steady-paced, quality content to help employees turn advice into practice. Video animation technology can be a powerful tool to convey abstract ideas in an engaging format.

3. Prioritize ongoing communication

Leaders who are open about their own experiences and share how they're implementing wellness routines can significantly increase morale. Additionally, providing an avenue for feedback builds trust and sends the message that good ideas can come from anyone. Ongoing, thoughtful communication from leadership can help employees feel inspired, motivated, and supported.