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Supporting Employee Mental Health

Author:Sarah Silcox

Contributing authors: Dr. Barbara Mariposa and Emma Mamo

Introduction

Employee mental health concerns are at an all-time high. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one in five US adults has a diagnosable mental health disorder, varying from mild to moderate to severe. A Mindshare Partners survey  found a significant increase in the number of employees (over seven out of 10) reporting at least one symptom of a mental health condition since 2019. And more than 80 percent of employees said that at least one workplace factor negatively affected their mental health.

Managers play a key role in supporting employees who have a mental health condition, including:

  • Recognizing and intervening when a mental health issue may be affecting performance;
  • Communicating employer benefits and programs available to help an employee; and
  • Arranging reasonable accommodations to enable the employee to perform the essential functions of their job.

This guide discusses how employers can support employees experiencing poor mental health and manage absence and return-to-work issues related to mental health conditions.