May is recognized nationwide as Mental Health Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness, expanding education, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and treatment. According to estimates from the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 23.1% of U.S. adults struggle with mental illness. Anxiety and depression are the most common, but mental health conditions of all types can contribute to difficulties at work, including burnout, absenteeism, or even leaving the workforce altogether.
LCS has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month every year since 2023, providing employees with activities to spark conversation and resources to promote mental wellbeing all month (and all year) long.
Supporting mental health in the workplace doesn’t have to be complicated. Small, intentional efforts can make a meaningful impact. Here’s how your organization can participate:
Get Moving
Regular physical activity has been proven to improve both physical and mental wellness, but many employees in traditional 9-to-5 jobs struggle to reach the recommended weekly exercise amount. Allowing employees to get their workouts in during the workday can contribute to reduced stress and higher levels of productivity and engagement. Encouraging your team to get active at work is an easy win for Mental Health Awareness Month.
Structured Activities
Host a Fitness Challenge – Use a digital platform like Wellable to have employees log steps, workouts, and more. You can even throw in prizes for the winners.
Teach a Class – Bring in an instructor to teach a yoga, Pilates, or Zumba class during the lunch hour.
Sponsor a Race – Become a sponsor for a charity 5K or Marathon and incentivize employees to participate.
Encourage Quiet Reflection
Between meetings, email notifications, and the day-to-day grind, employees may find they have very little time to take a quiet breather, other than their lunch break (if they even take one at all). Encourage your team to slow down and take a few minutes to breathe and reflect. Allowing time to not be “on” during the workday can help reduce stress and feelings of burnout that can hinder even your most productive employees.
Structured Activities
Offer Guided Meditation – Set up 15-to-20-minute blocks and lead employees through a relaxing meditation exercise.
Give Journal Prompts – Provide employees with reflection journals and encourage them to take a few minutes to respond to prompts.
Host a Reading Event or Book Club – What better way to relax than with a good book? Set up a silent reading room during lunch or sponsor an employee book club.
Offer a Painting Class – Bring in a painting instructor and host a Lunch & Learn dedicated to creating a beautiful piece of art together.
Host a Craft Day – Put out craft supplies in an empty training room and watch the creativity unfold.
Color a Masterpiece – Provide coloring pages and colored pencils or markers to give employees a relaxing way to decorate their desks.
Start the Conversation
Mental health education—and starting conversations about mental health struggles and seeking treatment—are important factors in reducing stigma and normalizing these human experiences. Shed light on available resources and open the door for employees to feel comfortable talking about mental health with educational activities and presentations this month.
Structured Activities
Host a Workshop – From burnout to time management and work-life balance, bring in an expert or host a roundtable discussion about common workplace mental health topics.
Give a Benefits Presentation – If your company’s health plan includes mental health resources, have a representative come to the office to give a presentation and answer questions about specific offerings. Someone who may be struggling may not even know they have options for help, so raising awareness can make all the difference.
Foster Support
Creating a supportive workplace culture has many benefits, even beyond mental health. Encouraging your team to cultivate a support network can strengthen professional relationships and provide crucial connections to lean on in times of stress.
Structured Activities
Host a Mixer Event – Match employees in a speed-networking-style event and give them icebreakers to guide conversations with coworkers from other departments. Not only will this expand their networks, but it can also help them take that first step toward building a support system at work.
Encourage Employee Recognition – Feedback and appreciation don’t just have to come from management. Use a platform like Reward Gateway and encourage teams to shout each other out. A little appreciation and support can go a long way.
Support Employee Groups – From book clubs to game night groups, help employees connect over shared hobbies, either during lunch breaks or after hours.
Workplace Benefits to go Beyond Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month is only once a year, but your organization can support employees’ mental health year-round through policies and workplace benefits that lighten the load. Whether in the form of office perks or benefits policies, review your offerings to see how you can further support mental health.
Examples of Benefits that Support Mental Health:
Employee Assistance Programs
Paid Medical or Parental Leave
Caregiving Assistance
On-Site Fitness Center or Gym Stipends
Flexible Work Schedules or Hybrid/Remote Work Options
Mental Health Awareness Month at LCS
For more ideas on how to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month at work, check out some of our favorite moments from the last several years at LCS. From Doggie De-Stress to yoga, group walks, and more, our team values the opportunity to get moving, connect, and support one another each May. With a little intention, your organization can create those same moments—during Mental Health Awareness Month and throughout the year.
