With 1 in 20 employees living with depression, promoting mental wellness in the workplace is essential. At the Naturally Informed event Stress and Mental Wellness: Mastering the Market, Christine Burych, President, StarlingBrook Leadership Consulting, presented valuable insights into the impact mental wellness has on the workplace: On a productivity level, she reported, in a three-month period people with depression miss an average of 4.8 workdays;and 11.5 days of reduced productivity.

Burych shared an action plan for leaders to promote wellness, and stressed the importance of doing so with a key statistic: 70% of employees report that their leader has a greater impact on their mental health than their therapist or doctor, according to Workforce Institute EKG 2023.

A mentally healthy workplace is set apart by:

  • Awareness: Mental health is recognized as an important part of employee well-being.
  • Support: Programs and policies are in place to help employees manage mental health issues.
  • Stigma Reduction: Leaders and employees feel more comfortable discussing mental health, and there is a visible effort to reduce stigma.
  • Reactive: Mental health challenges are addressed when they arise, with systems in place to support those experiencing difficulties.

    • 3 steps for leaders to promote wellness in the workplace:

  • Assess your current workplace culture regarding mental health.
  • Implement or improve mental health resources and support systems.
  • Commit to ongoing dialogue and training to keep mental health a priority.

    • Watch the educational session on demand for more key insights and actionable advice, plus access to additional resources from Burych to support leaders in creating a mentally healthy workplace.