Workplace Mental Health
In the midst of a crisis, mental health and self-care is paramount. The resources below can help you support your workforce during these uncertain times. Mental well-being has a significant impact throughout the U.S. and Canada and, in turn, throughout our workplaces and on employee benefit plans.
Conferences
Mental Health in the Workplace Virtual Conference
October 7, 2026 | Online
Webcasts
Workplace Mental Health: From Awareness to Action
Articles
Adversity Load to Safety at Work: Why Crisis Readiness Is Now Essential
Plans & Trusts May/June 2026
External pressures increasingly shape workplace conditions, adding stressors that reduce employees’ focus and resilience. The author outlines a proactive approach to protecting employees from psychological harm while building safer, more resilient workplaces.
Equipped to Help: Workplace Training on Suicide Prevention and Intervention
Benefits Magazine January/February 2026
Workplaces can be a powerful setting for suicide prevention strategies since most people interact with work. One such strategy is gatekeeper training—otherwise known as community helper training—which teaches workers to identify and reach out to co-workers at risk for suicide and connect them to support services.
Workplace Strategies to Address the Global Mental Health Crisis
Benefits Magazine January/February 2026
Mental health affects everyone, and organizations can reduce stress, prevent burnout and boost engagement through targeted initiatives. The author outlines strategies that improve both business outcomes and employee well-being.
Psychedelics: Emerging Mental Health Treatment Option?
Benefits Magazine May/June 2025
As interest grows in the use of psychedelics to treat chronic mental health conditions, employee benefit plan trustees and administrators should be prepared to respond to requests to cover these new treatments.
Quick Links
ROI, VOI on Mental Health Benefits
Mental health benefits may not always produce a simple short-term savings story. What evidence supports a positive financial return on investment in workplace mental health initiatives?
- A Canadian vendor found employers recovered $2 for every dollar spent on integrated mental health support for women within two years. (Greenshield, July 21, 2026)
- A vendor study found a projected 507% return on investment for client companies and employers saw an average annual return of $6.07 for every dollar invested in behavioral health services. (ComPsych and the Integrated Benefits Institute, April 9, 2026)
- A cohort study found employers saved an average of $2.30 in gross health plan costs for every dollar spent on clinical care, such as psychotherapy and medication management, resulting in 14.3% net savings and 25.2% gross savings. (Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research, June 20, 2025)
- A cohort study found savings of $1,070 per participant in the first program year and a return on investment of 1.9 for every dollar invested measured by reduced medical claims costs. (JAMA Network Open, February 5, 2025)
- Employers that support mental health saw a return of $4 for every dollar invested in mental health treatment. (National Safety Council and NORC at the University of Chicago, May 13, 2021)
- Canadian employers saw a median return of $1.62 for every dollar invested in workplace mental health initiatives, with some organizations achieving returns as high as $10 for every dollar spent, primarily driven by productivity improvement. (Deloitte Canada, November 3, 2019)
Additional Resources
- InfoQuick: Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
- Legislative Tracker (U.S.)
- Regulatory Updates (U.S. and Canada)
- Canadian Legislative Scorecard
- Sample Documents (U.S. and Canada)
- Pillar of Support: Employee Assistance Programs Create Stronger Workplace Foundations (John McCormack, CMA Today, March/April 2023. Permission to reproduce granted by the American Association of Medical Assistants.)
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