WTW shares wellbeing advice on World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day saw WTW share expertise to help employers support mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Addressing mental health needs

WTW attests that mental health needs inside an organization span a wide spectrum, including supporting those who:

are healthy, may not need care or may engage in self-driven care or with digital tools when needed
have moderate mental health conditions, such as a clinical diagnosis of a mental illness, who are moderate users of therapeutic services
are seriously mentally ill, with chronic conditions and high needs of the health care system

And remember, mental health is a concern for everyone, not just those with a formal or clinical diagnosis.

Stress, family dynamics, chronic medical illness, natural disasters, trauma, grief, and many other events that happen in daily lives impact how someone manages their mental health. Mental health impacts all employees, and World Mental Health Day is a good opportunity to remind employees that mental health care is important.

Promoting mental health awareness

Here are five ways progressive employers tend to spotlight mental health:

Raising awareness - Actively promoting mental health awareness and care, using ribbons, fundraisers or further campaigns as an opportunity to bolster awareness, and sharing information on mental health widely through various modalities or consider guest speakers.
Focusing on the workplace environment - Considering positivity campaigns, acts of kindness, or ways to encourage and develop more empathy to others and healthy habits. Considering the workplace environment and how mental health connects to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and the different ways diverse populations use/need mental health services.
Arranging wellness events - Providing information, addressing stress, holding mindfulness/meditation/yoga activities, and offering employees time away from work to take part.
Communication - Renewing focus and attention on managers, communicating resources and ways to connect struggling employees to services that may be supportive, refreshing communications to employees about the resources available, especially if benefits, programs, or offerings have enhanced or changed.
Addressing burnout - Adjusting the work day to address burnout and stress, considering 'no meeting' days, 'no video' days, and implementing general flexible working policies.