The importance of mental and physical health has never been more obvious as people everywhere struggle to endure the COVID-19 pandemic. During this difficult time, you can have an enormous positive impact on the lives of your employees by supporting their health and wellbeing. Taking the steps suggested below accomplishes this goal while creating a healthy culture and a thriving business.
What do an Oscar-winning filmmaker, a UN lawyer, a NASA engineer, and a Harvard doctor have in common? Well, at one point in their careers, each of these high-achieving individuals felt like an imposter. Even renowned author Maya Angelou once said, “I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘Uh-oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.’”
The pandemic is having a major impact on mental health—businesses and organizations have the positioning and capacity to fill crucial gaps in mental health care. A CDC report found that in June 2020, anxiety disorders in Americans was 3x that of 2019, and depressive disorders were 4x that of 2019.
Because Millennials and Gen Zs together account for most of the global workforce, their mental health struggles present an enormous challenge for employers around the world. Yet this is also an opportunity for businesses to provide innovative solutions to address employee needs, from diversity and inclusion concerns to re-skilling and sustainability initiatives. Employers should prioritize mental health by providing their workers with support and resources, addressing work-related stress, and working to eliminate the lingering stigma around mental health disorders .
