Walgreens, Mental Health America partner on guide for effective practices in workplace mental health

Mental Health America has released its “Workplace Mental Health Toolkit: Creating a Culture of Support and Well-being,” a framework for employers, people leaders and workers.

The guide, developed in partnership with Walgreens, details how to create or improve workplace practices that uplift workers, ensure they are heard and establish a culture of well-being.

At a time when MHA research shows that 4-in-5 workers feel that workplace stress affects their mental health and personal and professional relationships, providing mental well-being guidelines to workplaces is more important than ever.

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American Psychological Association research also shows those who typically feel stressed during the workday are more than three times as likely to say they intend to seek employment elsewhere in the next year.

“The pandemic revealed what we’ve known for a long time: Worker well-being must be prioritized to ensure a healthy, hardworking workforce,” said Taylor Adams, director of workplace mental health at MHA. “Many employers have taken steps to mitigate worker burnout, fatigue and anxiety, but much still needs to happen to make sure everyone is mentally supported while on the job. This guide is for employers wanting to build on existing resources and programs, and also for those that need assistance on how to get started.”

Using seven years of MHA strategic research to explore the impact of stress, burnout and mental illness on employee engagement and workplace culture, the tool kit provides fact sheets, printable resources, checklists, drop-in articles, case studies and more. Topics include:

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• Cultivating supportive people managers;
• Developing an employee-driven mental health strategy;
• 12 tips for creating a wellness event; 
• Educating employees about benefits and resources;
• Finding creative ways to think beyond the norms of basic benefits;
• 11 tips to support an employee; and
• How to build a mental health employee resource group.

It also includes a brief case study from Walgreens, highlighting some of the investments the retailer has made as part of the company’s commitment to workplace mental health.

“Walgreens is proud to work with MHA on this important initiative, and as employers, the role we play in supporting the physical, mental health and well-being of our team members has never been more critical,” said Holly May, executive vice president and CHRO at Walgreens Boots Alliance. “As part of our collaboration with MHA, we hope to help more employers foster a healthy and productive workforce by sharing best practices, as well as our own journey.”

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The tool kit release comes on the same day that MHA also opens the 2022-2023 application period for its Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health certification program, which recognizes, guides and elevates employers committed to creating mentally healthy workplaces.

The tool kit is available online and applications for the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental health are now open.