Mental Health Month: How companies can support their teams during the pandemic
May is Mental Health Month, and amid COVID-19, it’s especially important for people and companies to address mental wellbeing. We continue to see news about the toll COVID-19 is taking in terms of both physical and mental health. No one in the world is unaffected by this public health crisis. We are all feeling the psychological stress of this pandemic every day and in different ways. Many of the mental and emotional scars will last far beyond the end of stay-at-home orders and successful vaccine development.
People are experiencing so many different kinds of hardships, grief, and losses.
- Some people are mourning the loss of friends and loved ones to COVID-19.
- Many others are grieving the loss of jobs and income, wondering how to pay the bills during a crisis.
- Some are coping with depression and anxiety they were already experiencing before the pandemic.
- Others are dealing with the loss of normalcy, their familiar routines, and the benefits of physical, in-person interactions with family and friends.
- Others still are feeling all kinds of survivor’s guilt — whether that’s still hanging on to their job or just living through this extremely difficult time.
The much-repeated adage “we are all in this together” means that because we are all personally affected in some way, we should be kind and take care of each other in any way we can.
For companies, this is a time to practice increased understanding and compassion toward teammates. At WellSky, we know we have a responsibility to proactively invest in our teammates’ mental wellbeing. We are all sharing in some degree of distress, and we need to candidly acknowledge and talk about that. Here are three ways we’re supporting WellSky teammates through the pandemic and into a post-COVID world:
- Delivering mental health resources through the WellSky Employee Assistance Program (EAP), the Health Advocate tool, and Teladoc virtual therapy services. Even though all WellSky teammates are working remotely for the time being, they still have access to high-quality mental health support through their WellSky benefits. WellSky teammates can access mental health services through the EAP, Health Advocate, and Teladoc. We know that the way people engage is very individualized.That’s why we have an EAP, as well as a tool called Health Advocate, which connects teammates with a live person who can help them navigate our benefit offerings, the healthcare system, claims, referrals, and scheduling appointments. We know that these planning activities can be complex, increase stress, and even deter teammates from getting the help they need — so we’re solving for that. We also offer Teladoc for both physical and behavioral health needs. Teladoc allows our teammates to access care where and when it’s convenient and comfortable for them. It’s important for companies to include many different components within their programming to support today’s diverse workforce.
- Hosting candid, companywide discussions about the importance of mental health and actionable strategies for how to cope. WellSky recognizes the importance of delivering mental wellness programs and creating an environment in which teammates can feel productive and supported. Each month, the WellSky People & Talent team hosts an ongoing brown bag lunch webinar series to help our teammates keep learning and continue succeeding. In our more recent sessions, we’ve focused on timely topics, such as maintaining productivity while working from home.In our latest webinar, we covered emotional wellbeing, with the understanding that many of our teammates are facing new mental and emotional challenges. Hosted by our partners at Health Advocate, this session built awareness of overall emotional wellbeing and the impact in the workplace. The webinar will help identify stressors and share tools to provide support. Together, we discussed the stigma surrounding mental illness; defined emotional health; reviewed signs, symptoms, and behavior changes; and shared resources for those seeking guidance. We also debunked myths about depression and suicide and discussed ways for teammates to help someone they may be concerned about by referring to the EAP and professional resources. By offering our teammates access to helpful, informative sessions, we can be proactive partners in their ongoing mental wellness.
- Working with managers to encourage open dialogues about how teammates are actually doing and asking what support they need. At WellSky, we know that it’s important to educate our managers to recognize the signs and to not shy away from conversations about mental health. They need to approach it appropriately and with sensitivity. By simply checking in with a teammate to see how they are doing, managers may find out a little bit more about the teammate that may help the manager steer them to the appropriate resources. While we want managers to be a resource, we also respect that issues related to health or personal lives need to be safeguarded for confidentiality. This is about providing resources to our teammates if they need to use them. Asking for help can be difficult, so during these conversations, managers should also ask their teammates what they need and how the company can better support them. If a teammate is guarded, managers can direct them to places where they can access support — including resources like an EAP, Teladoc, or Health Advocate.
Companies have a responsibility to support their teammates, especially during this difficult time. Together, we can learn how to better support each other today and tomorrow.