At evolvedMD, we know all too well the harrowing state of mental health in America. While our collective mental health is important to tackle from a societal good standpoint, there is also an ever-growing business case for companies to take the lead on employee well-being and wellness.
With Mental Health Awareness Month celebrated in May, evolvedMD, a market leader in behavioral health integration, is proud to partner with the Greater Phoenix Chamber to help businesses understand why this topic is important to corporate bottom lines.
In Gallup’s recent “Employee Burnout: Causes and Cures”, the trusted voice in public sentiment noted that “burnout is costing more than you might think.” In fact, according to Gallup, 76% of employees experience burnout on the job at least sometimes, with more than a quarter experiencing burnout very often or always – a clear indication that workers are suffering. Unfortunately, less than a quarter feel strongly that their organizations care about their wellbeing which also illuminates a clear disconnect between workers and their employers given that adverse mental health symptoms are estimated to cause 200 million lost workdays each year at a cost to employers of $17 to $44 billion according to the CDC.
Understanding that the mental health of teams is impacting bottom lines, our team has spoken locally and nationally on what business leaders and their employees can do to prevent burnout and focus on well-being to drive performance and ultimately create a better environment for us to all live, work, and play. With that, please see below for practical approaches.
For Companies + Business Leaders
In a piece we penned with help of our marketing partner, Ideas Collide, we stated our business case for having a people-first culture with a summation of lessons learned and best practices below:
- Operationalize Culture of Wellness – From the executive level, create a culture of wellness that focuses on self-care. At evolvedMD, we incentivize self-care, set a policy on working hours to create company-sanctioned boundaries, and make well-being part of every employee interaction.
- Practice Psychological Safety – Simply inviting a conversation and asking, “how are you doing?” can go a long way and companies shouldn’t shy away from the difficult discussions. Psychological safety can come in many forms but we recommend a set of questions to help understand what your employees are doing through and how you can best support: Six Questions to Create Psychological Safety With Your Team.
- Promote Employee Engagement – Develop programming to foster connections and nurture personal and professional development.
For Individuals
Earlier this year I created Mental Health Strategies for 2022 which I encourage you to read in depth but for sake of brevity, you can find those tips below:
- Put Yourself First – “On a scale of 1-10, how am I feeling/doing in each domain and what would get me to one point higher?”
- Commit to Whole-Person Care – Practice good physical and mental health.
- Write, Write, Write – Put thoughts and feelings on paper in a journal or notebook.
- Find + Nurture What Fulfills You – Pursue a hobby to keep you focused and centered.
- Leverage Community With Vulnerability – Ask for help without feeling guilty.
For employees struggling with mental health, there is no substitute for seeing a mental health professional but the strategies above I have found invaluable in my own mental health journey.
Knowing that burnout impacts business, please take this month to reevaluate your company’s approach to mental health and wellness. With lived experience, expertise, and passion on the topic, please do not hesitate to reach out to evolvedMD to better understand how your company might instill a culture conducive to great results.
Boilerplate Info
Founded in 2017, evolvedMD is leading the integration of behavioral health services in modern primary care. Uniquely upfront and ongoing, our distinctive model not only places but embeds behavioral health specialists onsite at your practice. We offer an economically viable and better way to integrate behavioral health that ultimately drives improved patient outcomes.
Brief Bio
Sentari Minor is most passionate about bringing the best out of individuals and entities. His love languages are strategy, storytelling, and social impact. As Head of Strategy for evolvedMD, Mr. Minor is at the forefront of healthcare innovation with a scope of work that includes strategy, corporate development, growth, branding, culture, and coaching.