Addressing mental health and well-being in the workplace has become an increasing priority for companies around the world, with many employers seeing the great benefits of putting culture and employees first. As social isolation and remote work become our new normal in the time of COVID-19, the toll on our mental health becomes even bigger. From front-line workers to C-suite executives, many of us may be experiencing and observing increased emotions and symptoms. Taking care of ourselves, our loved ones, and our employees through this pandemic is going to mean protecting not only our bodies, but also our minds.
Typically, strategies and initiatives to address mental health in and out of the workplace involve turning to other people and support systems, but now that we have to be socially distant, many of us don’t have the luxury of in-person contact. This isolation, coupled with the need to care for family and navigate our professional lives in turn, compounds the risk to our health. Yet, it also presents opportunities for employers to put in place effective workplace mental health programs that improve employee morale not just during this unprecedented time, but over the long-term.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s new case study report, Cultivating Wellness: Mental Health Training in the Workplace, addresses how and why leaders in the business community are creating innovative programs and training to address mental health and well-being in the workplace. While it adopts a general approach to building a mentally healthy business, the practical information and strategies provided in the report can be applied to any situation, including COVID-19.
For additional resources from business leaders and industry experts on addressing mental health in the time of COVID-19, visit our coronavirus resources page.
Be well,
Elyse Cohen
Senior Director, Health, Wellness, and Food Programs,U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
