Since 1949, May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. Mental Health Awareness Month aims to combat the stigma surrounding mental health and normalize conversations that make support more accessible. In recent years, employers have started to understand that providing mental health support for employees is a critical business practice to retain employees, encourage employee well-being and remain competitive.
For the 73% of employees who are also caregivers, mental health support is intertwined with the help needed to sustain caregiving. An estimated 70% of caregivers are suffering from mental health struggles, while over 30% express having self-harm ideations. The numbers show employee caregivers are slipping through the cracks, but employers have the power to change that.
Caregiver support is mental health support.
Our Care Coaches spend time every day connecting employee caregivers with mental health resources for themselves and family members of all ages. Our firsthand knowledge of some of the things caregivers are struggling with has taught us there are tangible things employers can do to better support the mental health of caregiving employees:
Allow flexibility for employees
One of the greatest assets to employee caregivers is time. Allowing flexibility in the workplace provides employees with the time they need to manage their caregiving responsibilities and stay on top of their own mental health. Employers are finding success with company-wide mental health days, hybrid and remote work options, and even something as simple as modeling taking 5-10 minutes a day away from your desk for mindful moments.
Spark conversations about mental health
Talking about mental health can be difficult, especially in a work setting. Creating a safe space that invites conversation will contribute to normalizing the topic within your team. Webinars, educational emails and regular mental health check-ins are great ways to encourage employees to prioritize their mental health while letting them know you’re there to help them do it.
Stay informed about the needs of caregivers
Research shows that 52% of employers do not track their employees’ caregiving obligations. Without a good understanding of what challenges employees are facing outside of work, it can be difficult to know what kind of assistance will have the most meaningful impact. Making an effort to understand your team as employees and as people will allow you to provide the most direct, useful support. Employers who offer Cariloop are able to access regular updates about the types of caregiving challenges their employees are seeking help with.
Promote mental health resources
If employees are not aware of the mental health resources available to them, they may be less likely to reach out for help. Communicate frequently and clearly what resources and benefits are available for support, and encourage employees to take advantage without judgment.
Employers have an opportunity to make a significant impact on the mental health of their employees. To learn more about how to support the mental health of caregivers beyond Mental Health Awareness Month, reach out to us anytime.