May is Mental Health Awareness Month, offering HR teams and business leaders an important reminder: supporting employee mental health is not just a wellness initiative, it is a critical part of an organization’s overall success.
Mental health is closely tied to employee engagement, retention, and productivity. Yet even when companies offer mental health programs and benefits, they are often underutilized because employees simply are not aware of what is available to them. Clear, ongoing communication about mental health resources is essential for building a culture of support and trust.
A strong Total Rewards Communication strategy can bridge that gap by making mental health benefits visible, accessible, and an integral part of the employee experience.
Why Mental Health Benefits Must Be a Central Part of Total Rewards
Research continues to show that mental health challenges are on the rise. According to the American Psychological Association, nearly 81% of employees say they will be looking for workplaces that prioritize mental health in the future. Employees want more than just traditional benefits; they want to know their employer genuinely cares about their well-being.
When organizations integrate mental health into their Total Rewards communication, they accomplish several goals:
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● Normalize mental health conversations at work
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● Increase awareness and utilization of available resources
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● Reduce stigma around seeking support
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● Strengthen trust between leadership and employees
Key Mental Health Benefits to Highlight
Many organizations already offer benefits that support mental health, but those offerings can go unnoticed without proper communication. Here are some of the most impactful programs and policies to include in your Total Rewards messaging:
1. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
EAPs often provide free, confidential counseling services, legal advice, financial counseling, and crisis support. Despite their value, many employees are unaware that they exist. Clear communication about what the EAP covers, and how to access it, can drive engagement.
2. Mental Health Stipends or Wellness Reimbursements
Stipends that can be used for therapy, meditation apps, fitness memberships, or wellness retreats demonstrate a proactive commitment to well-being. Highlighting these benefits shows that your organization is willing to invest in employees' holistic health.
3. Flexible Work Policies
Flexibility in when and where work happens has a profound impact on mental health. Communicating flexible hours, hybrid work options, mental health days, or expanded leave policies reinforces the message that employees are trusted to balance their professional and personal needs.
4. Mental Health Days and Expanded PTO
Specifically highlighting "mental health days" as an option within PTO policies signals to employees that rest and recovery are valid, encouraged, and supported by leadership.
Best Practices for Communicating Mental Health Benefits
To ensure mental health resources are not just available but actively used, HR teams should:
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● Make messaging clear and jargon-free: Explain benefits in everyday language, avoiding complex insurance terms.
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● Use multiple channels: Combine digital communications, manager toolkits, onboarding materials, benefits portals, and peer-to-peer awareness.
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● Personalize where possible: Tailor communications based on employee demographics, career stages, or specific life needs.
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● Integrate year-round: Avoid limiting mental health messaging to just May. Mental health should be part of ongoing communications tied to Total Rewards, onboarding, performance reviews, and leadership updates.
Mental Health Communication Is a Business Priority
Prioritizing mental health is not just the right thing to do, it is a smart business strategy. When employees feel supported emotionally, they are more productive, more loyal, and more likely to stay with an organization long-term.
A Total Rewards strategy that clearly communicates mental health benefits can transform the way employees engage with their work, and with their workplace community. This Mental Health Awareness Month, HR teams have a critical opportunity to strengthen their culture, foster transparency, and create a workplace where well-being is truly valued.
Explore how backstitch can help enhance your Total Rewards Communication Strategy.
