Shira Wilensky on How Employers Can Create a Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy With BenefitsPRO

One of the biggest barriers to addressing mental health in the workplace in the past has been the stigma attached to mental illness.

Yet, there’s still much to be done in terms of battling the stigma and addressing the new mental health battles employees are facing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, nearly one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness in a normal year. When mental health is ignored in the workplace, it can lead to lower engagement. Personal and family health problems have led to productivity losses equivalent to $225.8 billion annually–and that’s before COVID-19.

OneDigital’s National Practice Leader of Health & Wellbeing Shira Wilensky delves into creating a sustainable workplace mental health & wellbeing strategy in the BenefitsPRO article, “6 Steps to Creating a Workplace Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy.”

While many employers are struggling to navigate the current climate and modify their business strategy to keep their doors open and sustain jobs, human resource professionals are staying true to their passion – caring for their employees. With mental health & wellbeing at the forefront of employee concerns, 34 percent look to their employers for resources to help their anxiety during the pandemic. Employers are seeking innovative ways to lift up their employees and capitalize on the current climate where not only is it ok to not be ok, but it’s also ok to seek help.
 
— Shira Wilensky, National Practice Leader of Health & Wellbeing, OneDigital

Read the entire article here. 

To learn more about how businesses are adapting to changing mental health and wellbeing issues, check out the recent blog post: Four Tips for Encouraging Mental Health and Fostering Opportunities for Connection

.