Mental Health Shift: From Employee to Family Focus

May 18, 2022

Today I’ll be continuing our discussion on mental health, specifically the shift in attention from employee based mental health solutions to family well-being that has become popular as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

two people holding hands

The impact of mental health

The blending of work and life has impacted the mental health of Americans, especially for child and caregivers. Recent data from the Journal of America Medical Association revealed that there has been a 27% increase in child anxiety and a 70% decrease in parental and caregiver mental health (1). What does your company offer employees to support their mental health and as well as their families? Now is the time to develop and strengthen the strategies your organization has in place for work health, not only for the employee but for the entire family.

What’s at risk

The cost of not providing a comprehensive mental health plan can add up quickly. A recent report from MindShare Partners showed that 60% of employees said their productivity was affected by their mental health and that 20% voluntarily left roles in the past for mental health reasons. (2) A supportive, strong family mental health benefits program can provide value to your organization by resulting in a more productive workforce, decreased rates of absenteeism, as well as the ability to attract and retain talent.

How your organization can support

An import part of supporting mental health is to decrease the stigma of mental illness. Allowing employees to talk openly about their mental health challenges and stressors can help reduce stress and anxiety resulting in better health and well-being. Additional resources your organization can provide for family support includes addressing affordability and accessibility of mental health services, providing backup childcare vendors and creating a supportive mental health culture by training colleagues on how to identify signs and symptoms of mental health conditions.

Two people holding hands

How I can help

At MMA we provide a complete wellness program, Well-being Your Way, with more tools and resources for you to take advantage of based on your business needs. We believe in going beyond just the physical components of health and instead offer a more holistic solution that recognizes the four facets that impact our overall well-being including, mental, financial, social, and physical well-being. We can help you assess your current state and work within your budget to deliver the solution that meets your needs.

Have questions about how to better manage mental health within your company or interested in learning more about Well-being Your Way? Email me at [email protected].

Welcome to Carlozo’s Corner! I’m Anthony Carlozo, a client executive at Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), the employee benefits division of Marsh.

At Marsh McLennan Agency, I work with organizations of all sizes to help them minimize their risk and maximize the value of their benefits programs.

Here I’ll be sharing insights about a current market trend and the strategies I’m seeing employers adopt to adapt to today’s evolving business landscape.