Connecting a multi-generational workforce to mental health resources

Posted by Michael Rubenstein In News 0 comment

Though members of different generations face varying everyday stressors, lead different lifestyles and hold different attitudes towards mental health, all of these individuals are connected through today’s workplace. In addition to being a source of connection with a multigenerational team, the modern workplace can also be a source of connection to mental health care.

Unfortunately, employer-based mental health resources are largely underutilized (multiple studies show the average use rate is under 10%) for various reasons. These might include fear of lack of confidentiality or professional consequences for divulging personal information, fear of judgment from co-workers/supervisors and, ultimately, fear of reaching out for help.

With five generations interacting in the workplace, employers have a unique opportunity to expand access and encourage care through comprehensive employee benefits packages. Employers can prioritize sharing information regarding employee benefits packages and resources that account for the various life stages and struggles that workers might encounter on their mental health journey.

The importance of spreading the word about resources
We all need mental health care — it just may look different for each of us, for a variety of reasons including experience in the workforce. A recent study conducted by CVS Health/Harris Poll found that 87% of Americans feel it’s important for employers to offer mental health resources, but only 20% of respondents are aware of these resources and use them, with older millennials using them the most.

Even employees who are aware of workplace mental health resources might need encouragement to use them. Nearly one-third of workers are aware of these resources but do not use them. Boomers are most likely to be aware of mental health resources but underutilize them, a 17-percentage points difference from Gen Z/young millennials.

The same study found that while more than two in five (42%) Americans express concern with their mental health, only one in 10 (12%) of all individuals regularly see a mental health professional like a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or well-being therapist. By promoting mental health resources available through medical plans and benefits offerings, like therapy or digital tools, employers can normalize seeking mental health care and bridge persisting discrepancies.

The role of the workplace in addressing multigenerational mental health
Employers can make mental health resources readily available to staff through employee wellness tools, like CVS Health’s Resources for Living. These types of tools connect members with a network of mental health professionals, support groups, community resources, legal help and other resources that specialize in addressing a wide array of mental health concerns and their root causes.

Each life stage brings its own set of stressors, and the right resources can help remove barriers to care for employees across generations. For example, telehealth options make help accessible to members of older generations who might be struggling with limited mobility as well as younger generations who might feel more comfortable interacting with others in a virtual setting.

Through employee wellness, employers can promote workers’ emotional health and provide practical help with everyday tasks. For example, a Gen X employee (ages 41-56) caring for elderly parents can use resources to find a local service that provides their parents rides to doctor’s appointments. A Gen Z/young millennial struggling to pay off student loan debt can use the directory to find a financial adviser to help them develop a sustainable payment plan.

Breaking barriers across the board
Acknowledging feelings like stress and anxiety through seminars and candid discussions on stressors inside and outside of the workplace might encourage employees that come from backgrounds in which mental health is stigmatized to seek help and prioritize total well-being as everyday health. Being transparent about mental health can also expose employees to tools beyond therapy that help them identify their emotions and manage everyday stressors.

For example, through offerings like Resources for Living, employees can access apps that lead them through guided meditation sessions and encourage them to engage in physical activity that can improve their overall health.

The right mental health support for everyone
Offerings like Resources for Living allow employees from all walks of life access to practical, professional help at all points on their mental health journey. As employers increasingly expand policies and benefits packages to account for employees’ mental health, they have an opportunity to raise awareness of the care employees need, have and deserve. Those with an understanding of which offerings resonate with which employee demographics can make a profoundly positive impact on mental health that spans generations.