Emotional Health Benefits

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) mental health challenges present significant quality-of-life and financial burdens for employees and employers alike. Somewhere between 30% and 50% of adults experience mental illness over their lifetimes, with a cost of $200 billion each year in health care expenses and lost work productivity. Mental health crises can also result in a higher employee turnover.

Providing appropriate mental health care at work can improve both your ability to hire and retain top talent, and to safeguard the wellbeing and productivity of your workforce. Your Highstreet agent can help you evaluate the benefits of having mental health care as part of your health and wellness benefits plan.

The U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being emphasizes the foundational role that workplaces play in promoting the psychological health and well-being of workers and lays out five essentials for pursuing workplace mental health:

• Protection from harm (including security and safety)
• Connection and community (including social support and belonging)
• Work-life harmony (including autonomy and flexibility)
• Mattering at work (including dignity and meaning)
• Opportunity for growth (including learning and accomplishment)

A solid emotional health strategy, as part of your overall employee health and wellness plan, can provide proof of your commitment to your employees, as well as provide them the support and resources they need to stay well. Talk to your Highstreet agent about integrating mental health supports into your employee benefits package.