Today’s corporate environment demands that employers integrate mental health discussions into employee engagement. To do this successfully, it’s critical that decision-makers understand what mental health challenges their employees may be facing. In its fourth annual United in Empathy Report, our organization, Crisis Text Line, offers a picture of the issues texters across the country are seeking support for.

For the first time, the top stressor in people's conversations was tied to relationship dysfunction and stress. And roughly one in five people talked about feeling lonely or isolated as a result of a lack of human connection.

Research from the American Institute of Stress shows that levels of stress have been steadily increasing since the pandemic, especially in light of people losing their jobs and facing higher costs of living. Employee stress can cause low engagement, lack of focus and productivity, poor performance and an increase in absences. As business leaders, we can help be part of the solution and take action to address stress levels in the workplace.

In order to enhance productivity and engagement within our teams, we can encourage our team members to take care of themselves and each other in the workplace and at home. The increasing stress levels we face each day have significant repercussions that we should acknowledge. When stress levels are higher, employees are more on edge, may get offended or frustrated more easily and have higher rates of burnout.

While stress cannot be entirely avoided, people, communities and organizations are more resilient when there are high rates of connection, agency and purpose. Below are a few tips to consider to help build resilience and create a more supportive yet productive culture within your organization.

  • Find ways to strengthen the human connection.
  • Reinforce agency among employees.
  • Foster purpose to help support team building.

Read the full article about mental health support by Dena Trujillo at Forbes.