Mental Health and the Importance of Empathy in the Workplace

This article was adapted from the WorkplaceTech Spotlight entitled, “Mental Health and the Importance of Empathy”.

The past few years have ushered in a global reckoning when it comes to mental health, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating an already pressing crisis. Now more than ever, mental health issues have come to the forefront across all areas of society—and the workplace is no exception. Recent data illustrated the severity of this problem in corporate America: 76% of U.S. workers reported symptoms of a mental health condition in 2021 alone. Moreover, 84% of workers experienced at least one mental health challenge in 2022. Behind these statistics lies rising absenteeism, plummeting productivity levels, and severe impacts on companies' bottom lines.

Mental Health Crisis in Workplaces

According to the World Health Organization, anxiety and depression among workers have already cost the global economy over $1 trillion in lost productivity. Furthermore, research by SHRM spotlighted a substantial gap in mental health care access for working-age adults in the U.S. today. With 15% of working-age adults being estimated to have a mental condition in 2019, the nationwide demand for mental health services dramatically outweighs the supply of providers. As a result, it’s imperative that workplaces step up to fill in the gaps.

Benefits of Prioritizing Mental Health

The role of human resource professionals is especially vital when connecting employees with mental health resources. By taking a proactive approach to education, stigma reduction, and care access, HR leaders have an opportunity to revolutionize how companies support their people holistically. The potential benefits of these efforts extend far beyond social responsibility: Promoting mental health and wellness boosts productivity, enhances recruitment and retention, reduces absenteeism, and ultimately fuels stronger business performance overall.

Proactively supporting mental health yields tangible dividends over time. Beyond boosting engagement and loyalty, research showed that every $1 invested into expanded mental health services generates $4 in increased productivity and job performance. Embracing mental health priorities is not only an ethical imperative but also a savvy business strategy.

Innovations in Mental Health Solutions

According to Ariela Safira, founder and CEO of Real—an innovative mental health platform providing scalable solutions to U.S. employees—the traditional model of in-person therapy is simply not enough to address most people’s needs today. “We need to build something that scales beyond the capacity of one on one,” Safira urged.

Safira’s solution transcends traditional modalities to provide anonymous, equitable mental health support to employees anywhere. Through an app offering chat-based therapy, meditation, journaling features, and more, Real meets workers wherever they are in the flow of daily life. This emphasis on scalability points to a promising new frontier when it comes to mental health care: curating a portfolio of resources tailored to individual needs while preserving anonymity and accessibility for all.

The potential for technology to expand access to mental health care is vast, especially for marginalized groups. Mobile apps, virtual therapy, and telepsychiatry models demonstrate immense promise in serving diverse needs. Although digital solutions are not a panacea, their convenience, anonymity, and scalability make them indispensable tools for the road ahead.

Building an Empathetic Culture

Crucially, the success of such innovations relies on buy-in from organizational leaders and a cultural shift emphasizing empathy, openness, and understanding. Part of HR’s vital role involves educating executives and managers on mental health issues while championing empathy as a core leadership skill. Modeling supportive attitudes and behaviors from the top down establishes a work environment in which employees feel safe to seek help without judgment.

Encouragingly, thought leaders have predicted a continued push toward cementing mental health as a foremost priority for employers. Major corporations have already floated reducing the workweek to four days as a potential approach, with the shortened schedule allowing for more free time to recharge and connect with loved ones. More research is still needed, but this shift could indicate a growing focus on using workplace policies to bolster holistic well-being among teams.

Ensuring Equitable Access

No matter the specific solutions implemented, ensuring mental health care access for underrepresented groups remains paramount. As Safira noted, “Over 90% of psychologists are white. ... That means that today, 99% of people of color will never get access to effective one-on-one therapy. … We need to be building solutions that really reach those demographics.” Addressing these care gaps with sensitivity and nuance will be critical as workplaces strive for  inclusion.

Tailoring mental health solutions to underserved groups involves a nuanced understanding of diverse needs. Deep-rooted stigmas around mental health care in many communities of color, for example, necessitate sensitive outreach and trust-building. Any efforts to expand access must honor and incorporate the perspectives of the vulnerable populations that are directly affected.

Concluding Thoughts

Ultimately, the state of mental health in corporate America is undeniably urgent. Reimagining our approach to employee mental health care may seem daunting initially, but the rewards promise to outweigh the required effort. Equipping staff with easily accessible support curtails turnover, boosts job satisfaction, and ultimately fuels more substantial business outcomes. By embedding empathy, compassion, and humanity into the organizational culture, companies set the stage for resilience and collective thriving. The time for change is now—and human resource leaders have an invaluable role to play in sparking this workplace evolution.

FAQs

How can HR professionals contribute to improving mental health in the workplace?

HR plays a pivotal role through educating about mental health issues, reducing stigma, making treatment more accessible, and fostering environments where openness and empathy are normalized. HR staff can connect employees to benefits, liaise with providers, inform policies that promote work/life balance, and help leaders become more trauma-informed.

What are some innovative solutions for addressing mental health at work?

Scaled digital solutions such as mobile apps, virtual therapy, and telepsychiatry show immense potential to serve diverse needs conveniently and anonymously. These innovations don’t replace traditional in-person therapy, but they can expand access through technology. Platforms like Real bridge care gaps via chat-based treatment, self-guided tools, and customized modalities.

How important is leadership training in mental health and empathy?

Teaching leaders about mental health and empathy is extremely important. Cultural change starts at the top—so training for leaders about mental health awareness, trauma dynamics and management, and leading with empathy should be robust and ongoing. Leaders set the tone for staff feeling safe, supported, and empowered to prioritize well-being.

Can changing the workweek structure impact mental health positively?

Changing the length of the workweek has the potential to positively impact mental health. Shorter workweeks allow more time for employees to rest, pursue personal interests, and connect with loved ones—all protective factors for mental health. More research is still needed, but major companies trialing four-day schedules have noted promising improvements in worker happiness and productivity. The viability likely depends on the industry and nature of the work involved.

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This article was written based on Episode 12 of the WorkplaceTech Spotlight.

Thank you to Ariela Safira, founder and CEO of Real, for contributing to the conversation.

Sources:

• [Source: SHRM - WorkplaceTech Spotlight: Ep. 12 - Mental Health and the Importance of Empathy]
  [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBxmyzT7lbU]
• [Source: The Lancet Global Health - Mental Health Matters]
  [https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30432-0/fulltext#]
• [Source: BMC Psychiatry - Prevalence and Economic Burden of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among Singaporean Adults: Results from a 2022 Web Panel]
  [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9925363/]
• [Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - U.S. Surgeon General Releases New Framework for Mental Health & Well-Being in the Workplace]
  [https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/10/20/us-surgeon-general-releases-new-framework-mental-health-well-being-workplace.html]