Mental Health in the Workplace

Tomorrow, October 10, is World Mental Health Day. It is an important reminder that mental health is a critical component of overall well-being. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness. In 2025, an estimated 54.6 million adults aged 18 or older had a mental illness in the past year, representing 20.6% of the U.S. adult population.

For employer groups, when mental health needs are not addressed, employees may experience increased absenteeism, presenteeism, reduced productivity, higher healthcare costs, and greater employee turnover. As employers continue to evaluate their benefits strategies, access to mental health resources should remain an important consideration.

Are your clients incorporating mental health resources into their workplace benefits strategy? Here are three ways brokers can help employers support employee well-being:

1. Comprehensive Coverage Options
   1. Select major medical plans with access to in-network mental health providers, and expand access to care with telemedicine options
   2. Offer HSA/FSAs that can help pay for specialized treatments
   3. Explore supplemental coverage options that provide benefits for severe mental health conditions, such as the BCS Severe Mental Illness rider
2. Wellness Programs
   1. Select an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) model that aligns with the organization’s needs, and proactively communicate available resources to employees
   2. Consider benefits offerings that include access to an Employee Assistance Program⁽¹⁾ such as BCS term life and disability products
   3. Ensure health assessments include behavioral health questions to help identify potential risk areas
   4. Offer educational programs and resources focused on stress management, mindfulness, resilience, and overall well-being
3. Workplace Culture
   1. Make mental health resources known to employees, and consider rebranding to encourage usage
   2. Communicate an assurance of confidentiality, and train managers to address questions and help alleviate the stigma

Employers can’t afford to ignore mental health within their workplace benefits. Contact BCS for more information.