Compiling Your Toolkit: Mental Wellness in the Workplace

May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, annually recognized as a time to draw attention to the various mental health considerations for employees throughout the corporate landscape. 

According to Accenture, mental health challenges have impacted 9 out of 10 employees, with 69% experiencing mental health issues personally and 88% knowing someone affected. However, despite its prevalence, only 33% of employees self-identify as having mental health challenges due to fear of negative consequences (Mental Health First Aid, MHFA). 

While there is still progress to be made, the growing consideration for workplace mental health support signals a potential momentum shift. Disability:IN’s 2023 Disability Equality Index® Report found that:

• 92% of participating companies offered mental health or employee assistance programs (EAPs) in 2022, up from 75% in 2021.
• 99% of participating companies provided flexible work options.
• 85% offered wellness benefits beyond EAPs or mental health coverage. 

Behind this data are real people who are living and working while navigating mental health challenges. Mental health and wellness is personal for everyone. Oftentimes, individuals may need to mix and match various support tools when compiling their mental wellness “toolkit”. It’s important for all of us to understand the tools available to us as we work together to advance mental health awareness and inclusion in the workplace.

Ways to Join IN:

Explore: Resources for Mental Wellness at Work 

Led by Committee Co-Chairs Dr. Tamarah Duperval-Brownlee (Accenture) and Jon McLeod (ESPN), the Disability:IN Mental Wellness Committee developed the Workplace Mental Wellness Resource Guide that provides an overview of mental health disabilities commonly experienced in the workplace. 

Behind the Data: Learn from Professionals 

This Mental Health Awareness Month, Disability:IN’s Director of Marketing & Communications, Allyce Torres shares her disability story and recovery journey as a person with an eating disorder. 

Mental health conditions have recovery rates equal to and greater than many physical medical conditions. Our Executive Vice President, Global Workplace Initiatives, Leslie Wilson, shares her story and encourages others to take care of themselves and seek healing. 

Mental health is the number one cause of disability in the workplace. The world is changing, and the mental health needs of employees are shifting with it. Learn tips for promoting mental health in the workplace from Dr. Tamarah Duperval-Brownlee, Chief Health Officer at Accenture, in this three-part Instagram takeover: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 

Learn: Upcoming Mental Health Awareness Event 

Disability:IN Corporate Partners are invited to join an exclusive webinar. Partners can register for this event on the Corporate Partner Portal:   

• “Mental Health and the Model Minority Myth” webinar on May 22 will celebrate the contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander Americans while examining the stigma of the Model Minority Myth and its mental health implications, offering strategies for dispelling myths and correcting misconceptions.