As CEO of Calm, I’ve dedicated myself to improving mental health on a large scale, driven by my own experiences with panic attacks and a deep understanding of the importance of mental well-being, honed during my journey down a path of technology and its intersection with healthcare. As a business leader, especially at a mental wellness company, I consider how we can impact our people’s mental health in a positive way. This has led me to advocate for a redefinition of employee wellness, one that integrates mental health resources directly into physical wellness initiatives, valuing mental well-being as highly as physical health.
Historically, healthcare has treated mental and physical health separately, but we now understand they are intrinsically linked. This is why, increasingly, the broader healthcare system is reorienting around a whole-health perspective.
Mental Wellness and Physical Wellness Are Linked
When my mental health declines, it shows up physically. I might experience a headache or even a panic attack. On the flip side, any physical problem can drag down my mental state. To keep everything running smoothly, I like to utilize techniques that nurture the connection between my mind and body—whether that is meditation, exercise, or simply getting enough sleep (not so simple, especially in middle age). It’s also important to listen to the signals my body and mind send me so that I can tackle any imbalances head-on.
At The World Economic Forum in Davos, I saw firsthand that the connection between mental wellness and physical wellness is a global concern. While there, I emphasized that people are constantly bombarded with notifications from fitness trackers and devices, reminding them to focus on their physical health (“Get up and move!”). However, we lack the same barometer for mental health, especially at work. This means we require individuals in the workplace to self-regulate, to ignore their personal mental health battery—often to the detriment of their own health. When we talk about whole health in the workforce, it’s usually really half health.
Traditional wellness programs often focus solely on half too—on physical health. This might include “perks,” such as gym memberships. However, a modern approach to employee wellness should incorporate mental health support, including on-site therapy options, mindfulness training, and mental health workshops. This encourages companies to provide employees with a well-rounded, accessible support system that treats mental health as an equal partner in holistic wellness.
Companies should consider implementing several key policies:
- First, you want to keep your employees’ mental health batteries fully charged, what we call “green.” Rather than waiting until someone is in crisis to access support, keep mental wellness top of mind.
- We have seen the end of the remote-work era of the COVID pandemic. Still having some flexibility in work arrangements gives employees greater autonomy and allows them to recharge.
- Employee assistance programs (EAPs) offer confidential counseling, mental health resources, and support networks. How to access them should not feel like trying to obtain the nuclear codes—it should be straightforward, simple , and all employees should know how to easily access these services.
- Mental health days should allow employees to take time off without stigma.
- Wellness programs should provide both mental and physical support.
- Technology can play a role in mental wellness—it does not have to feel impersonal. It can be a powerful tool.
- Realistic workload management is needed with clear boundaries around after-hours communication.
- Antidiscrimination policies must protect employees from bias based on mental health status.
The benefits of prioritizing employee mental health extend to the company’s bottom line. .[1] By creating a supportive environment, we can address these issues head-on, leading to a more creative, productive, and successful team.
Wellness incentives play a crucial role in integrating mental and physical health. However, it’s vital to expand access beyond current “half health” approach. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure people recognize that mental health is as important as physical health and that these two aspects of well-being are intertwined.
1 https://www.gallup.com/workplace/404174/economic-cost-poor-employee-mental-health.aspx.
