Mental Health Awareness Month: Strategies to Boost Engagement and Reduce Stigma

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a vital opportunity for organizations to prioritize employee well-being. As HR leaders and company executives, you shape workplace culture by fostering environments where mental health is valued. Open conversations and robust wellness resources, like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), can transform your workforce. Here’s why championing mental health discussions this May—and year-round—reduces stigma, boosts engagement, and drives organizational success, with practical strategies to make it happen.

Why Mental Health Conversations Matter

Normalizing mental health discussions is critical to creating a supportive workplace. 80% of employees say stigma prevents them from seeking care (McKinsey, 2021), yet mental health is health—essential for employees to become their best selves. Prioritizing dialogue during Mental Health Awareness Month offers powerful benefits:

• Reduces Barriers to Care: Stigma fuels fear of judgment, with 1 in 3 employees reporting unfair treatment due to mental health issues (Australian National Survey, 2022). Open discussions encourage help-seeking, increasing utilization of wellness resources and enabling early intervention.

• Builds Trust and Inclusion: Sharing anonymized stories from employees or leadership humanizes mental health. For example, company executives discussing mental wellness support boosts program engagement, which fosters a culture of belonging from the top down.

• Enhances Engagement: 70% of employers now prioritize mental health, up from 59% in 2020 (SHRM Foundation, 2021). Normalizing conversations aligns with employee expectations, with 9 in 10 workers citing workplace stress as a well-being concern (SHRM, 2023).

• Drives Productivity: A psychologically safe workplace reduces burnout and sparks innovation. Johns Hopkins notes that supportive environments cut absenteeism, saving employers $225 billion annually in lost productivity (CDC, 2022).

By showing employees it’s okay to confront mental health challenges, you empower them to thrive, strengthening your organization’s culture and performance.

The Power of a Robust EAP

A comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a cornerstone of workplace wellness, offering confidential support to address personal and professional challenges. According to SHRM, 60% of employees report higher job satisfaction with EAP access. Here’s why EAPs are a game-changer:

• Holistic Support: Robust EAPs provide counseling, life coaching, financial guidance, legal advice, and a full suite of wellness resources, some even available 24/7 to employees and their families.

• Reduced Turnover: With 4 in 5 employees feeling emotionally drained (SHRM, 2023), EAPs signal care, fostering loyalty and cutting turnover costs, which can reach 200% of an employee’s salary (Deloitte, 2019).

• Strong ROI: Every $1 invested in mental health resources yields a $4 return in health and productivity gains (World Health Organization, 2020). Some recent studies suggest the return is now over $5 per $1 invested.

 Leading EAPs will empower employees to manage stress, anxiety, or depression, driving measurable outcomes like higher engagement and lower healthcare costs.

Actionable Strategies for Mental Health Awareness Month

To boost engagement with mental health resources and eliminate stigma, implement these evidence-based strategies during May:

1. Launch an Awareness Campaign: Share newsletters your EAP might offer or host a “Mental Health Matters” webinar to highlight available resources. Tools like Covenant Workplace Solutions’ Lifestyle EAP provide user-friendly portals with ready-to-use content for easy sharing.

2. Train Leaders: Equip managers with certified mental health first aid (MHFA) training to recognize distress and promote resources. SHRM’s Mental Health Ally program shows trained leaders increase EAP usage by 20% (SHRM, 2024).

3. Host Workshops: Invite experts for sessions on stress management or resilience. Covenant’s mental health workshops, for example, engage employees and normalize help-seeking.

4. Share Stories: Encourage voluntary, anonymized employee stories or leadership testimonials about using your wellness resources. This can easily be attached to the agenda of recurring meetings that already occur to maximize efficiency.

5. Measure Success: Track resource utilization, employee satisfaction, and turnover to refine your strategy. Analytics from your EAP partner can offer insights to optimize impact.

These steps create a culture where mental health is celebrated, amplifying the reach of your wellness initiatives.

Take Action This May

Mental Health Awareness Month is your chance to show employees that mental health is health. By fostering open dialogue and leveraging your EAP, you can reduce stigma, boost engagement, and build a workplace where everyone thrives. Looking for an EAP that does more than just check the box? Contact Covenant Workplace Solutions or call (833) 434-1335 to explore how our wellness solutions can support your organization. Let’s create a healthier, happier workplace together!