This Mental Health Awareness Month, Let’s Make Wellness a Standard Business Practice

By Tracey Ferstler, PhD

AVP, U.S. Claims and Operations
MetLife

Mental health has taken on an entirely new meaning for many people over the past year of social distancing, being an essential worker, or working virtually. Add in the stress of personal and family member health concerns, and the toll on employee mental health should come as no surprise. The recently released MetLife 19^th annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Survey1 estimates that, compared to pre-pandemic levels, 3 million more people are feeling stressed, 9 million more are feeling burned out, and 7 million more are feeling depressed at work.

Statistics like these are a wake-up call for the importance of mental health during this difficult time. Employees today are experiencing stress from every angle. When asked why they don’t rate their mental health very highly, 34% of employees stated financial concerns, 30% stated stress from non-work factors, and 29% stated fear of pandemic-related health issues. Facing these distinct yet interconnected factors, employers have an opportunity and responsibility to alleviate the burdens on their employees’ mental health.

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