Mental Health Requires More Than a Hotline

The pandemic accelerated the evolution of a lot of trends. Perhaps the most important was breaking down the taboo of prioritizing mental health.

The world and the United States are up against immense challenges, yet again. With inflation, talks of a recession, and rounds of layoffs happening with every passing week, workers everywhere are facing a great deal of stress. And we all deal with it differently.

Commercials and brand messaging aren’t enough to combat the devastating consequences of suffering gone unchecked. It’s the responsibility of business leaders to ensure meaningful steps are being taken to take care of their people. How leaders choose to handle sensitive issues has far-reaching impacts.

Businesses seem to be rising to the challenge. According to a McKinsey study, 70% of employers report they plan to invest in mental health resources by starting, continuing, or expanding benefits. I just hope these companies don’t re-evaluate these plans as cash gets tighter.

There is no one size fits all solution to this problem, but there are things that every CEO and founder can do to elevate awareness, empathy, and support for those dealing with mental illness. Here are five ways to start addressing the issue today.