For more than 30 years, we’ve been proud to celebrate World Mental Health Day – a day focused on spotlighting mental health, raising awareness and advocating against stigma. From providing training and programing that promote the goals of education, awareness, and advocacy, to helping organizations break down stigma while engaging their unique employee populations, we’ve found World Mental Health Day provides a meaningful opportunity to connect with workforces on the topic of mental health and well-being.
It also gives us all the chance to thoughtfully reflect on our own journey with mental health. For leaders and HR teams it’s a particularly important moment to consider the culture they’re fostering within their organization.
Mental Health Awareness Is More Important than Ever in the Workplace
Mental health awareness is a topic of increasing importance for businesses – regardless of where they’re located or what industry they operate in. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly one in seven people globally live with a mental disorder such as anxiety or depression. These disorders can impact a person in many ways, including at work. In fact, data from ComPsych shows that mental health leaves of absence have increased by 300% since the COVID-19 pandemic. And absence only tells part of the story. Burnout, presenteeism or lost productivity, staff morale, and high turnover rates are just some of the ways that worker mental health can negatively impact a team or organization. Simply put, the business impact of supporting employee mental health is tremendous.
Supporting Global Employee Populations
Of course, there isn’t a one-size-fits all approach to employee mental health and well-being. This is especially true for multi-national organizations. Cultural norms and context are vital to connect with workers and meet them where they are. Challenges and stigmas can differ in markets globally, and it’s crucial that international companies provide culturally competent care in each market where they have employees.
World Mental Health Day 2025: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies
This year’s World Mental Health Day centers on the theme of accessing mental health services during emergencies and catastrophes. It’s a timely theme, particularly as extreme weather events, natural disasters, geopolitical conflicts, and other humanitarian emergencies ravage communities across the world.
Kenny Zuckerberg, ComPsych’s Vice President of Learning & Organizational Excellence, offers HR leaders three ways to lead employees during and after an emergency while creating an opportunity to improve awareness of resources and build ongoing organizational resilience. Watch the ComPsych Quick Take or keep reading to learn practical ways to prepare effectively.
Lead with Empathy
- One of the most important things for HR teams to remember when responding to a crisis is to ensure they first and foremost are communicating with empathy and authenticity. By leading with humanity, organizations demonstrate that they genuinely care for employees and that they want to support them through this difficult time, creating trust and bolstering community when it’s needed most.
Use the Emergency as a Lens to Create Awareness
- The reality is that context is everything. People are much more likely to remember something if they process it through the lens of something that is important to them. This makes a moment of crisis an incredibly critical time. Not only are employees more likely to need services during an emergency, they’re also more likely to remember the services that are available and retain that information for future.
Be ready with Available Resources
- To help employees in their moment of need during a crisis, leaders must be prepared ahead of time. During emergencies, time is of the essence and a thoughtful, rapid response goes a long way. HR teams and leaders can prepare by understanding what resources and benefits are available to staff members. The more information the better. For instance, rather than suggesting someone consider contacting the Employee Assistance Program, Kenny recommends having the access instructions at the ready – whether it’s via a QR code, flyer, email address, web portal, or phone number – whichever modality is most likely to encourage the team member to take immediate action. The easier you can make it for the employee and the more specificity you can provide, the more likely you are to actually help the person and make an impact.
Continuing to Champion Mental Health Awareness Throughout the Year
As we observe World Mental Health Day 2025, let’s recognize it not just as a single day of awareness, but as a catalyst for ongoing commitment to employee well-being. Whether your organization is navigating an immediate crisis or building resilience for future challenges, the message remains clear: prioritizing mental health support isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s essential for creating thriving, sustainable workplaces. By preparing in advance, communicating with empathy, and ensuring employees know how to access the resources available to them, you can transform moments of vulnerability into opportunities for deeper connection and trust. This World Mental Health Day, take the time to review your mental health resources, reach out to your teams, and recommit to fostering a culture where mental health is not stigmatized but supported every day of the year.
