Creating Supportive Mental Health Culture for New Employees

Supporting the mental health of new entrants in the workforce is not merely an option but a vital necessity. New entrants need to feel comfortable talking about mental health in the workplace. As the growing significance of the mental health of employees becomes evident, it has become important for employers to navigate a complex landscape of mental health support. From the employer’s perspective, the landscape of mental health support is becoming more saturated with a multitude of benefits, products, incentives, and options.  As a consequence, the uncertainty and deficiencies in mental health support can lead to new employees experiencing a sense of confusion, disconnection, and a heightened inclination to seek alternative job prospects. Hence this Harvard Business Review article suggests how businesses can create a supportive mental health culture for new employees.

According to the article, new entrants to the workforce, particularly recent graduates and those changing jobs, emphasize mental health support. The article advises including mental health in the new employee experience to successfully assist the mental health of new workers. This includes including a definition of mental health support in the organization’s principles, sharing stories about mental health initiatives, and offering information about the benefits throughout the hiring process. Furthermore, the study adds that co-creating psychologically healthy work cultures by supporting clear work standards, adapting individual working demands, and concentrating on learning and growth opportunities can help to a healthier work environment. Finally, using a user experience lens to assist new employees in navigating mental health benefits can be a useful method. This entails clear communication about available services, training leaders and managers in mental health assistance, and considering financial incentives for good lifestyle choices. 

Prioritizing mental health for employees is essential for businesses. The aforementioned are a few initiatives businesses can take in order to create psychologically safe workspaces for employees.