Supporting employee mental health: The US Surgeon General's new framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being

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Koa Health
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The pandemic exacerbated an ever-growing mental health crisis, but it also highlighted an undeniable connection between work and mental wellbeing. Now, the U.S. Surgeon General is urging employers to build workplace cultures centered around mental health and wellbeing.

Given that we spend one-third of our lives working, it’s no surprise that the work environment plays a major role in how we feel, both mentally and physically. Employers have a responsibility to not only offer mental health benefits to their employees, but also to build a workplace culture around mental wellbeing.

Centered around workers’ voice and equity, the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being identifies Five Essentials for a healthy workplace culture. Those Five Essentials are: Protection from Harm, Connection & Community, Work-Life Harmony, Mattering at Work and Opportunity for Growth.

At Koa Health, we know supporting employees’ mental health is an organization-wide challenge—especially due to the lingering stigma associated with mental health in the workplace and beyond. Here’s how Koa Health is helping employers build a workplace culture of mental wellbeing by addressing the U.S. Surgeon General’s Five Essentials.

Discover how to build a culture of mental health at your workplace with simple, everyday actions. Our playbook has broken it down by each of the U.S. Surgeon General's Five Essentials:

  • Protection from Harm
  • Connection & Community
  • Work-Life Harmony
  • Mattering at Work and Opportunity for Growth

Get your free copy here.

about the author

Koa Health

The Team @ Koa Health

Our diverse team of developers, researchers, psychologists and behavioral health experts work together to create practical, thought-provoking content to accompany our range of digital therapeutics.