How to Support Employee Mental Health Without Breaking the Budget

Poor mental health is a serious problem affecting more and more people. About 15% of working adults live with mental health issues like depression and anxiety. This affects performance, contributes to employee absenteeism, and reduces productivity and efficiency. 

Supporting employee mental health through dedicated programs can be a valuable part of your broader employee wellness strategy. These programs offer resources to help employees manage challenges that may affect their performance, engagement, and overall well-being.

Employee assistance programs (EAPs) enhance mental health and can be delivered in person, online, or by telephone. These services are usually employer-supported and deal with workplace problems caused by mental health, substance abuse, and personal issues. EAPs help employees cope with stress and boost productivity.  EAPs and employee wellness coaching provide a positive return on investment for organizations and individuals. 

What Are Employee Mental Health Programs?

Employee mental health programs are employer-supported initiatives that help workers cope with mental health issues. These services are typically known as EAPs or member assistance programs (MAPs). Employee and family assistance programs (EFAPs) extend the services to family members of employees. 

Mental health support programs for employees provide assistance with:

• Personal issues
• Workplace issues
• Substance abuse 
• Mental health disorders

Implementing plans and support systems for employees experiencing mental health issues can benefit both workers and your organization. This typically includes an environment where employees can openly discuss their issues and professional services to help them deal with them. Workplaces that reduce stress and provide mental health resources improve the well-being of the workforce. 

A well-implemented EAP includes some training for managers in screening tools that assess employee well-being and can be used at regular intervals to track it. They can also be implemented selectively in situations known to raise stress levels.

The American Psychological Association recommends training managers to enhance employee well-being and health. It also recommends that workplaces implement programs and policies that promote employees’ mental health.

Why Mental Health Support Matters in the Workplace

Mental health support programs benefit both employees and employers in meaningful ways.

Employees benefit from programs that support their mental well-being. When organizations show they care about mental health, employees become more focused, engaged, and productive. Feeling valued at work encourages them to perform their best. Access to mental health resources can also lower the number of sick days taken due to stress, anxiety, or burnout. Over time, this support creates a more positive workplace culture, boosts morale, strengthens team bonds, and increases employee loyalty.

Employers also benefit from these programs. They can lower absenteeism and its related costs. Companies that prioritize mental wellness often keep employees longer, as workers prefer to stay with businesses that care about their well-being. Positive and welcoming environments can lead to better teamwork and more innovative ideas.

5 Affordable Ways to Support Mental Health at Work

You can support your employees’ mental health at work without a big financial investment. Here are five affordable strategies:

1. Promote a Culture of Openness and Support

Employees with mental health issues should feel comfortable discussing mental health without any fear or stigma. Employees and managers should receive training on mental health awareness and how to support colleagues. Managers in particular need the right mindset to support employees in need and respond with compassion. Positive behavior from leaders influences organizational culture without significant costs.

2. Offer Flexible Schedules and Remote Work Options

Telecommuting and flexible schedules help employees better manage their time, balance personal responsibilities, and work when they’re most productive. This kind of flexibility supports employee well-being by reducing stress, improving morale, and creating space for a healthier work-life balance.

The benefits extend to employers, too. Nearly six out of ten employers say they’ve saved money by offering telecommuting — IBM reportedly cut real estate costs by $50 million.

3. Provide Access to Virtual Mental Health Resources

In-person visits with mental health professionals may be challenging because of time constraints and distance. Some employees may prefer not to visit a clinic in person. Consider an EAP that offers remote consultations and counseling. Such services are highly valued by employees, with 81% of workers indicating they would look for workplaces that support mental health.

4. Recognize Signs of Burnout

Longstanding stress at the workplace, poor support, and excessive workload are common underlying causes of burnout. It can cause physical symptoms, psychological problems like insomnia and depression, and outcomes such as absenteeism, job dissatisfaction, and employee turnover. 

Some warning signs of burnout include:

• Exhaustion. Employees feel emotionally drained and exhausted, causing them to disengage from their work. Physical symptoms such as pain and bowel problems are also likely.
• Alienation from work activities. Employees become cynical about their work and co-workers, with a reduced interest in their responsibilities.
• Performance decline. Workers have poor concentration and creativity and are listless, leading to poor performance.

5. Consider Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) 

EAPs have an upfront cost, but they often pay for themselves. When the retailer L.L. Bean instituted an EAP, it saved $1.70 to $5.30 for every dollar spent. 

How Next Level Prime Makes Mental Health Support Easy and Affordable

Next Level Prime is a membership plan that offers your employees unlimited access to the care they need. You can gain significant cost savings while enhancing employee well-being and workplace efficiency. Our 45 clinics across Texas are open from 9 AM to 9 PM every day, and we provide 24/7 virtual care.

Let’s Talk About Mental Wellness at Work

With Next Level Prime Benefit, you can give your employees unlimited access to high-quality, no-cost healthcare—including primary, preventive, chronic, and urgent care—at any of our 45+ clinics across Texas. Care is available every day from 9 AM to 9 PM, with 24/7 virtual care for around-the-clock support, including mental wellness services like behavioral health counseling, emotional wellness support, and health coaching.

Offering Next Level Prime not only supports employee well-being—it also helps reduce healthcare costs and improve productivity. Learn more about how this benefit can make a difference for your workforce.