How to Improve Mental Wellness at Work: A Guide for Employers & HR Teams
Last Updated on May 30, 2025 by Manassa Shrikanth
Reviewed by April Justice, LICSW
- Published on 30 May 2025
As hybrid work models evolve and employee expectations shift, one thing is clear: the future of work must prioritise mental wellness.
Top talent today isn’t just looking for competitive pay – they’re seeking psychological safety, flexible policies, and organisations that know the importance of mental wellness at work.
If you’re an employer or Human Resources (HR) professional looking for ways to promote workplace mental wellbeing, our guide is just for you.
Join us as we explore the significance of employee mental health, key pillars of a mentally healthy workplace, and six practical workplace wellbeing initiatives (such as Employee Assistance Programs) to consider.
This Article Contains:
Understanding the Importance of Mental Health in the Workplace
You might not always see them, but they’re there.
The team member who’s unusually quiet in meetings. The high performer who suddenly starts missing deadlines. The new joiner who smiles in every check-in but seems withdrawn.
Mental health challenges such as anxiety, stress, and overwhelm often go unnoticed in the workplace – until they reach a crisis point.
And for too long, mental wellness at work has been treated as a reactive issue – something to address only when such crises, burnouts or breakdowns occur. But by then, it’s often too late.
A proactive approach to mental health in the workplace is not only more compassionate – it’s more effective. When employers and HR teams prioritise employee mental health, they create healthier, more motivated teams, a stronger and more positive culture, and a more resilient organisation.
Here are some reasons why promoting mental wellness at work is the need of the hour:
- It helps employees stay focused, motivated, and productive.
- It reduces absenteeism and the hidden cost of presenteeism.
- It strengthens your organisational image and attracts top talent.
- It helps prevent burnout and long-term mental health issues.
- It ensures compliance with workplace health regulations.
- It improves employee loyalty and reduces turnover.
- It builds a more trusting, inclusive, and supportive work culture.
4 Key Pillars of Workplace Mental Health
For employers and HR teams, supporting employee mental health should be about more than just ticking boxes or offering perks; It also needs to be about creating a culture where people feel safe, heard, and supported every day.
Here are four key pillars that can help build that foundation:
1) Clear Mental Health Policies at Work
A mentally healthy workplace starts with clear, accessible, and well-communicated policies. These might include:
- Guidelines on taking mental health leave
- Flexible work arrangements such as remote/hybrid work policies, flexible working hours, etc
- Anti-discrimination and anti-bullying protections
- Clear procedures for raising concerns and voicing needs (eg reduced workloads or quiet spaces)
- Return-to-work support plans after mental health-related leave
- Confidentiality and privacy guidelines for employees seeking support
- Clear referral pathways to in-house or external mental health services, such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
- Inclusion of mental health in overall health and safety policies
Such policies signal to employees that their mental well-being is a priority, not an afterthought. They also ensure consistency and transparency in how support is offered, making it easier for team members to reach out when they need help.
2) Leaders Who Walk the Talk
Culture always flows from the top.
When leaders openly prioritise mental wellness at work – be it by speaking about it, modelling healthy boundaries, ensuring regular check-ins with employees, or using wellbeing resources themselves – it normalises those behaviours across the organisation.
Leadership buy-in is a crucial part of breaking stigma, encouraging openness, and making mental wellness at work a shared value, not just an HR agenda item.
3) Managers Who Listen and Support
Managers are often the first point of contact when an employee is struggling. That’s why it’s crucial that they’re equipped with the training, empathy, and tools to respond appropriately.
Training managers to check in regularly, recognise signs of burnout, and have a clear process for addressing concerns can make a huge difference in how safe employees feel.
Active listening, compassionate responses, absence of judgment, and a willingness to adjust workloads or timelines can significantly improve mental wellness at work.
4) Easy Access to Professional Mental Health Support
Employees should never feel lost or alone when seeking help.
It’s essential for organisations to provide easy and confidential access to mental health support, whether through EAPs, onsite counsellors, group workshops, or trusted referrals.
Clear communication on how to access these resources, along with assurances of confidentiality, can positively impact employee well-being.
6 Workplace Wellbeing Initiatives to Consider
Improving workplace mental health is less about large workshops and events and more about the everyday details: the freedom to take mini-breaks during the day, flexibility to organise the workday, access to quiet spaces to pause and opportunities to pursue personal passions.
Below are six simple yet highly effective workplace well-being initiatives that can help you make a meaningful difference in employee mental health:
1) Flexible Work Policies and Mental Health Breaks
Flexibility helps employees manage stress, balance responsibilities, and stay productive without burning out.
Options like hybrid work setups, flexible start and end times, or compressed workweeks (eg 4-day workweeks) can show that the company values mental wellness at work.
Mental health breaks – longer leave policies as well as short, regular pauses in the day – can also help employees recharge and reset.
Tip
Encourage teams to block ‘reset’ slots in their daily calendars and take short screen-free breaks during the day.
2) Regular Workplace Mental Health Training for Managers & HR
Managers and HR teams need to feel confident in recognising signs of distress, having supportive conversations, and knowing how to direct employees to appropriate help.
Training can help equip them with tools to respond with empathy, avoid common missteps, and contribute towards mental wellness at work.
Tip
Make workplace mental health training mandatory for people managers and organise annual refresher sessions with real-life scenarios and roleplays.
3) Peer Support Groups & Mental Health Workshops
Spaces for shared experiences among teams can foster a sense of belonging and positive association with mental wellness at work.
Peer support groups can provide employees a safe, voluntary forum to talk about challenges with colleagues who walk a similar path and face many of the same challenges.
Meanwhile, expert-led workplace mental health workshops can create awareness on topics such as stress management at work, setting professional boundaries, and navigating change.
Tip
Partner with mental health professionals or organisations to facilitate group sessions and workshops.
Talk Your Heart Out’s (TYHO’s) EAP services include empathy circles (group sessions) as well as wellness seminars and workshops.
4) Mental Health Zones to Breathe & Reset
Dedicated quiet spaces in the office – away from all the corporate noise and hustle – can help employees slow down, take breaks, or simply pause to prioritise mental wellness at work.
Remember, these zones don’t need to be fancy. Even a calm corner with comfortable seating, a few plants, and low lighting can make a big difference.
Tip
Involve employees in designing these spaces – this way, it can also double as a team-bonding activity!
5) Team-Bonding Activities & Recreational Clubs
Social connection is crucial to enhancing employee well-being and promoting mental wellness in the workplace.
Regular team-bonding activities, interest-based clubs (eg, book, gardening, fitness), or volunteer days can help employees connect beyond work and build a more connected, human-centred work culture.
Tip
When planning these activities, ask for suggestions from all team members to make sure everyone feels heard and respected.
6) Robust Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
EAPs are employer-sponsored mental health services that provide access to confidential, professional mental health support.
Services often cover talk therapy, group sessions, workplace mental health workshops, mental wellness seminars, on-site support and crisis intervention.
A well-communicated and easy-to-access EAP can be a lifeline for employees dealing with workplace mental health issues.
Tip
Regularly remind employees that EAP services are free, confidential, and easily accessible.
Key Takeaways
A mentally healthy workplace is one where people feel seen, safe, and supported, both during challenging times and in their everyday work life.
As a leader or HR professional, you have the power to improve mental wellness at work and foster a positive work culture.
Remember, change doesn’t always have to be big – you can start with the small things, the things that often matter most to your employees.
Here’s a quick recap of the six workplace mental wellbeing initiatives we explored in this blog:
- Offer flexible work options and encourage mini-breaks to support stress management at work
- Provide regular mental health training for managers and HR teams
- Facilitate workplace mental health initiatives like peer-led support groups and run engaging mental health workshops
- Offer strong mental health support programs for employees, such as a robust EAP
- Create quiet, calming spaces to help employees unwind and pause during the day
- Create opportunities for social connection through recreational clubs and team-building activities
Explore TYHO’s EAP services and start offering accessible mental health support in your workplace today.
