7 key takeaways for employers

To summarize the highlights of the report, there are a number of key steps employers can take to future-proof their investments in workplace mental health:

1. Find out what employees like/dislike about their existing benefits. Ask what they would like to see included and take that feedback into consideration when making changes or additions.

2. Adapt communications using a variety of channels to engage employees of all demographics and provide them with relevant information about their benefits.

3. Take a holistic approach to workplace health: create an environment and work arrangements that are physically and psychologically safe for everyone, based on primary, secondary and tertiary interventions.

4. Consider DEI in mental health and wellness initiatives and strategies, to help equity-deserving groups overcome barriers to support.

5. Determine which data to collect to identify which initiatives are most successful and build on them.

6. Don’t assume employees know about the mental health initiatives and programs you have in place. Clearly explain what benefits are available and how to access them.

7. Provide mental health awareness training to leaders and managers to promote the programs in place and better support employees.

Conclusion

Future-proofing recommendations have emerged to help organizations ensure that their mental health and wellness initiatives meet the evolving health needs of their employees. Implementing even some of these recommendations could help organizations create healthier workplaces and reaffirm their commitment to mental health. Organizations may be at dissimilar stages in their “future-proofing” journey, and some may have more internal capacity than others, but they can all choose which of these recommendations will best serve their priorities and meet their employees’ needs. Incremental changes can lead to cumulative impacts – some changes may take time, while others may happen much more quickly.

There is no doubt that strong mental health is an important driver of employee engagement and wellbeing. Investing in workplace mental health yields benefits well beyond productivity. Employers can now look ahead and address the remaining challenges to truly create sustainable initiatives that meet the needs of today – and tomorrow.

Want to learn more? Read our extra tips for implementing a mental health strategy here

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7 key takeaways for employers

To summarize the highlights of the report, there are a number of key steps employers can take to future-proof their investments in workplace mental health:

Conclusion

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