May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it's a good time for employers to take a step back and look at how they're supporting their team.
This one is personal for me. I've lost a brother to suicide. So when I talk about mental health, it's not just business, it matters in a real way.
There's still a stigma around mental health, especially in the workplace. A lot of people don't speak up or ask for help because they don't want to be judged or seen differently. The good news is, the industry is getting better, more plans are including mental health services, virtual care is more accessible, and there's more awareness than there used to be. But coverage alone doesn't fix the problem if people don't feel comfortable using it.
I see this often, employers offer solid benefits, but employees either don't understand them or don't feel comfortable using them. When that happens, those benefits aren't doing what they're meant to do.
It doesn't have to be complicated to make a difference. Explain benefits in plain English. Make it easy to access care. Encourage time to reset when it's needed. And set the tone from the top.
When people feel supported, everything improves, not just productivity, but retention, morale, and overall well-being.
If you ever want to take a second look at your current benefits or how they're being used, I'm always happy to help.
