More and more employers are understanding the need for including additional mental health services in their benefits packages, and for good reason. A staggering 83% of US workers report suffering from work-related stress and 42% of employees with access to mental health benefits cite this as a major reason they are inclined to stay at their job. As the link between mental and physical well-being becomes more and more apparent, it’s important employers ensure they are offering a benefits package that will promote whole-body wellness. Read on to learn more about the growing need for providing mental health benefits and how employers can support their team’s overall wellbeing.

The Growing Need for Including Mental Wellness in Benefits Packages

According to the American Psychological Association, demand for treatment for anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders continues to soar, with 84% of psychologists reporting an increase over last year. While many attribute this increase in demand to a lingering impact from the pandemic, the push for mental health wellness actually began before. Most employers recognize the importance of offering a comprehensive benefits package as an important component in attracting and retaining the best employees. In fact, most employers include vision and dental to their health insurance benefits as an added incentive that is meant to go above and beyond what other companies are offering. With an understanding of the growing need for mental health services and a desire to support employees in nurturing whole-body wellness, many companies are opting for benefits packages that also incorporate mental health benefits.

What are Mental Health Benefits?

Mental health encompasses our psychological, emotional, and behavioral well-being—in other words, how we think, feel, and act. It’s an important component in how we handle immediate and ongoing stress, how effectively and efficiently we make decisions, and how we engage with and contribute to our community, whether at home or at work. Our mental health impacts nearly every facet of our lives – not only our mood and outlook but also how productive we can be in any task we’re trying to complete.

Mental health benefits packages should support employees in nurturing a positive mental outlook and can include many things, such as:

  • Counseling services, both in-person and via telehealth
  • Substance abuse and recovery programs
  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
  • Mental health informational sessions and workshops in the workplace
  • On-site meditation or mindfulness classes
  • Stress management programs – A wide array of on-site mental health resources

An employer’s approach to supporting employees’ overall health should ideally offer many outlets for nurturing whole-body wellness to include mental and physical health.

Company-wide Advantages to Providing Mental Health Benefits

While offering benefits packages that include access to mental health services is highly beneficial for the individual employee, it also provides significant benefits to the company as a whole. Access to affordable mental healthcare improves overall physical health, increases productivity, and helps employees feel supported by their employer, which can have a positive impact on employee retention. Employees who feel supported by their employer to focus on mental health are much more likely to stick around.

Studies have shown that mental health and physical health are innately linked. When a person is experiencing problems with one, they often experience problems with the other. Struggles with stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to other physical problems like high blood pressure, ulcers, headaches, fatigue, restlessness and insomnia, and difficulties concentrating. All of these can have significant impacts on an employee’s attendance and productivity while at work. By supporting employees by providing mental health benefits, companies are enabling their employees to attend to their emotional, physical, and behavioral well-being, which will have a positive impact on their ability to perform the duties of their job and be a productive member of the team.

AUI Can Help You Build a Whole-Body Wellness Benefits Package

At AUI, we understand a one-size-fits-all approach to your company’s benefits package just won’t cut it. Our dedicated team can design the perfect combination of health, life, and other insurance products to make your employee benefits stand out—and that includes helping you design a whole-body wellness benefits package that includes mental health services. We take the time to understand your needs to help you find the right product for your budget. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help!