Best Practices in Developing a Mental Health Strategic Plan

Mental well-being is about feeling able to cope with the challenges of life. Organizations can support the spectrum of mental well-being in their workforce by building an environment free from stigma around behavioral health concerns. Use the prompts below to identify the why, what, and how of your strategy that can support your organization’s business priorities.

Potential strategy drivers

• Each year, nearly one in five U.S. adults experiences a mental health challenge.
• 80% of workers with a mental health condition say shame and stigma prevent them from seeking treatment.
• Depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15 to 44 yrs.
• Anxiety disorder is the number one mental health challenge among adults in the U.S.
• 53% of C-suite executives reported struggling with mental health issues in the workplace (more than their employees).

Potential opportunities

• The organization’s overall culture of worksite mental health
• The level of access employees have to evidence-based behavioral health care
• What company policies are in place (FMLA, sabbatical, use of PTO, flexible scheduling, parental leave, workers’ comp, etc.)
• The professional development offered to managers and supervisors to provide support
• How EAP data and critical incidence response strategies are utilized

Potential tactics to improve mental health

• Create a supportive, caring, and inclusive workplace culture that meets the needs of a diverse workforce
• Focus on whole person well-being in company policies
• Mitigate organizational stress to prevent burnout
• Offer programs on mindfulness, resilience, and stress management
• Provide mental health training to human resources, managers, and supervisors
• Reduce the stigma about mental health by becoming a StigmaFree Company

• Lisa Comerose
• Betsy Nota-Kirby
• Heidi Orstad
• Courtney Patt
• Erika Tollefson
• Karla Sohre

Please contact Diane Andrea with questions about the Mental health playbook.