How to tackle mental health stigma in the workplace

How to tackle mental health stigma in the workplace

While the stigma around discussing mental health may have eased in recent years, research data clearly shows that there’s more work left to do. According to a national poll from the American Psychiatric Association, only 48% of workers feel comfortable discussing mental health with their colleagues. Additionally, the 2024 NAMI Workplace Mental Health Poll reveals that stigma, lack of communication, and fear of retaliation are key factors preventing employees from sharing their mental health concerns at work. 

The persistent stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace poses a significant barrier to employee wellbeing and organizational success. Despite increased awareness and initiatives to support mental health, many employees still feel uncomfortable discussing their mental health challenges openly, fearing judgment, discrimination, or negative career impacts. This reluctance to seek help or share experiences perpetuates a culture of silence that can exacerbate mental health issues and hinder productivity.

Understanding mental health stigma

Mental health stigma refers to the negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors directed towards individuals experiencing mental health issues. This stigma can manifest in various ways in the workplace, from gossip to overt discrimination. Employees may fear being judged as weak or incompetent if they disclose their mental health struggles, leading to a culture of silence and shame. This stigma not only affects those directly experiencing mental health challenges but also creates an environment where seeking help or support is perceived as risky or unacceptable.

The impact of mental health stigma in the workplace is far-reaching and multifaceted. It can lead to decreased job satisfaction, reduced productivity, and increased absenteeism among affected employees. The fear of stigma may also prevent individuals from seeking necessary treatment or accommodations, potentially worsening their mental health conditions. 

Challenges for employers

Employers face their own set of challenges when addressing mental health stigma in the workplace. Many organizations struggle to balance supporting employee wellbeing and maintaining productivity. 

Some common obstacles include:

• Lack of understanding about mental health issues

• Limited resources for mental health support

• Generic resources that don’t resonate with employees

• Difficulty in creating a culture of openness and acceptance

Navigate's customizable wellbeing platform addresses many of these challenges by providing a centralized hub for mental health resources, education, and support. The platform offers personalized assessment surveys, access to mental health coaches, and a variety of self-help tools such as meditation guides and stress management techniques. Additionally, Navigate's analytics capabilities allow employers to track engagement and outcomes, enabling them to refine their mental health initiatives for maximum impact continuously.

Strategies for reducing mental health stigma

The role of leadership

Leadership sets the tone for workplace culture, and the challenge of destigmatizing the mental health conversation starts at the top. When leaders openly discuss mental health and share their own experiences, it normalizes these conversations for everyone. Vulnerability at the top can break down barriers and encourage employees to seek help without fear of judgment.

We recently had the privilege of discussing the issue of mental health stigma with a seasoned benefits manager at JE Dunn Construction. With 18 years of experience dedicated to enhancing the health and happiness of JE Dunn Construction's employees, Anne Wright plays a pivotal role in the company's wellbeing initiatives. With over 5,000 employees operating out of 26 offices, JE Dunn has distinguished itself through its unwavering commitment to mental health internally and throughout the entire industry.

Anne Wright explains, "Our sheer passion for the importance of mental wellbeing has driven us to reach out to several of our industry peers, even those we compete with directly. We all share employees in this industry, and with fewer people entering the trades, it's vital we take care of those we have." By assisting competitors to implement similar mental health programs, JE Dunn exemplifies true leadership and selfless dedication to bettering the industry as a whole, ensuring that employee wellbeing remains a priority for everyone.

Open dialogue through peer-to-peer support

Peer-to-peer social interactions play a pivotal role in destigmatizing mental health in the workplace. When employees engage in open dialogue and support one another, mental wellbeing conversations normalize, helping break down barriers and misconceptions. 

Specialized team challenges within the Navigate platform offer a unique platform for building camaraderie and promoting mental wellbeing. Employees can engage in friendly competition while forming meaningful connections with their peers by participating in activities designed to reduce stress and encourage personal growth. These challenges can spark conversations about mental health topics, further embedding the importance of wellbeing into an organization’s culture. The collective pursuit of mental wellbeing creates a sense of unity and purpose, reinforcing the message that caring for one’s mental health is a shared responsibility within the organization. 

Employee led committees 

Employee-led mental health committees can be a powerful force in breaking down stigma. These committees create safe spaces where employees can discuss mental health, share resources, and advocate for workplace improvements. By representing the voices of their peers, committee members can surface concerns, suggest meaningful policy changes, and organize mental health events that resonate with the workforce. This grassroots approach helps build trust and ensures that mental health initiatives are employee-centric. 

Navigate's social features can help facilitate these positive interactions, creating a supportive digital environment that complements in-person efforts. Employees can easily participate in discussions, access resources, and stay updated on upcoming events.

Meaningful mental health resources 

Mental health resources are a crucial part of any benefits package. Providing meaningful resources goes a long way toward communicating an organization’s commitment to the health and happiness of its employees. The Navigate platform ensures that employees have easy access to tools like employee assistance programs (EAPs), video learning, mental health coaching, and social connections. By integrating these resources, it’s easy for leaders to support their employees and easy for employees to find the support that they need.

Additionally, Navigate's Total Health solution takes mental health support a step further by offering personalized recommendations tailored to each employee's unique needs. By leveraging data and insights about an individual's wellbeing, the platform can suggest specific resources, programs, and activities that align with their mental health goals. This personalized approach enhances the effectiveness of the support provided, ensuring that employees receive the most relevant and impactful assistance. Whether it's guided meditation sessions, stress management workshops, or connecting with a mental health professional, Navigate's Total Health Solution helps employees achieve optimal mental wellbeing through targeted, customized support.

Maximizing benefit utilization

Unfortunately, providing meaningful mental health benefits is not enough. According to Forbes, approximately half of employees do not fully understand their benefits, which heavily contributes to low utilization rates and confusion surrounding available resources. The Navigate platform empowers leaders to integrate their benefits offerings into the app, incentivizing employees to engage with their mental health resources through rewards and recognition programs to maximize utilization. 

Encouraging employees to fully utilize their mental health benefits serves as a way to normalize the conversation surrounding mental health, and further demonstrates leadership’s commitment to employee mental wellbeing.

Policies that encourage flexibility

Time flexibility has emerged as a cornerstone of workplace wellbeing, proving instrumental in nurturing mental health and job satisfaction among employees. According to the American Psychological Association, 80% of workers who perceive higher psychological safety in their workplace agree that their employer understands the need for flexibility to handle unforeseen personal issues.

A few examples of time-flexible policies include:

• Providing ample paid time off

• Flexible working hours 

• Remote or hybrid working policies

It’s important not only to have these policies in place but also to encourage employees to utilize them to support their mental health. This type of encouragement from leadership helps to build trust and further destigmatize mental health conversations in the workplace.

At Navigate, we offer our employees three weekly wellbeing hours to use at their discretion. Whether it’s to hit the gym, see a medical provider, or simply take a stroll through the park—we encourage employees to use these hours to do anything that supports their wellbeing.

Live training and seminars 

Engaging mental health professionals to deliver live mental health training helps normalize the conversation around topics that employees might be hesitant to discuss otherwise. This approach provides employees with practical strategies and tools to manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health concerns effectively. Hosting interactive seminars allows employees to actively participate and ask questions in real time, fostering a more engaging and supportive learning environment. These live sessions also enable professionals to address specific concerns and tailor their advice to the unique needs of the workforce.

Looking to the future

We have come far as a society as it relates to the discussion of mental health in the workplace. While the conversation isn’t nearly as taboo as it once was, we still have ground left to cover. Addressing mental health stigma remains an ongoing process that requires commitment from all levels of an organization. 

Reducing the stigma benefits not only individual employees but also organizations' overall success and productivity. As we move forward, it's essential to continue the conversation, challenge outdated beliefs, and work together to create more inclusive and supportive work environments for all. Navigate assists organizations by offering tailored resources, mental health training modules, and data insights to help them make informed decisions. 

Ready to see how Navigate can help your organization support employee mental health? Book your demo today.