14 Ways Companies Can Promote Mental Health Awareness Month On Socials
As Mental Health Awareness Month approaches, it’s crucial for companies to demonstrate their commitment to employee mental health on social media.
To help you showcase your employer brand’s dedication to this important issue, we’ve gathered 14 tips and strategies from industry leaders, ranging from hosting live Q&A sessions with mental health professionals to sharing personal employee stories.
Read on to discover how you can effectively promote mental well-being within your organization.
14 Ways Companies Can Promote Mental Health Awareness Month On Socials
Tip 1
Host A Live Q&A With A Mental Health Professional
Jess Rodley, Director of Operations, Dialed Labs
Hosting a live Q&A with a mental health professional can help destigmatize mental health challenges in the workplace.
By opening up a dialogue about mental health and encouraging employees to ask questions and seek support, we create a culture of openness and acceptance around mental health issues. Employees who may not have the opportunity or courage to ask questions in person can participate from the comfort of their own homes.
Overall, this approach demonstrates a commitment to creating a supportive work culture and taking proactive steps to support employees’ mental health and well-being.
Self-care is crucial for maintaining good mental health. Encourage employees to practice self-care by sharing tips and strategies on social media. Examples of self-care strategies include practicing mindfulness, engaging in physical activity, and getting enough sleep.
One thing that has become abundantly clear over the last three years is that employees with flexible working arrangements are happier, more productive, and mentally healthier than their full-time in-office counterparts. In fact, many employees have quit rather than subject themselves to full-time in-office work.
To demonstrate a commitment to the mental well-being of employees, it is beneficial to tie this to flexible work initiatives and share it through social media channels. This approach can be more effective than simply showcasing mental well-being webinars.
Tip 4
Equip Employees With Mental Health Awareness Training
Tashera Pravato, Global Employer Brand Manager, Shaker Recruitment Marketing
Empowering employees to prioritize their mental health is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also good for business. The American Psychology Association notes that just three hours of Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) for leaders can lead to improved attitudes and motivation around mental health promotion in the workplace. One strategy for demonstrating a commitment to mental health is to equip leaders, managers, and every employee with the language, training, and education needed to discuss mental health awareness.
Creating an environment of inclusivity, flexibility, and empathy is another crucial step, as well as helping leadership understand the causes of workplace stress. Providing leaders with the tools to facilitate conversations and leading by example can help reduce the stigma around mental health. In turn, this creates a workplace that prioritizes the well-being of all employees.
Tip 5
Showcase Mental Health Support Initiatives
Heather Wilson, CMP, Founder, The Brand Strategy Tank
Highlight the company culture by sharing photos or videos that showcase the ways the organization supports employees’ mental health. For instance, when hosting a large event, post photos of the wellness rooms created for neurodiverse attendees, allowing them to take a break without having to leave the event. With their permission, share stories of how team members prioritize their mental health during the workday.
Expressing a commitment to prioritizing mental health and well-being for employees is a great start. However, it’s crucial to take tangible action to demonstrate that the team is actively implementing measures to support this commitment. Words alone are not enough to show dedication to mental health; backing them up with action is essential.
Highlighting the employee assistance program (EAP) is an effective way to demonstrate a commitment to employee mental health on social media. Showcasing dedication to fostering a friendly and caring work environment can be done by educating others about the EAP and how it helps employees manage mental health issues.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, a social media campaign can be developed to draw attention to the EAP. This can be done by sharing the advantages the program has given the staff through personal accounts from those who have used it. The success of such a campaign will demonstrate the importance placed on employee mental health.
A small strategy with a significant impact on social media involves changing a brand’s typical profile picture to a themed one related to mental health. This applies to platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube, where the profile picture plays a crucial role in branding. By making the effort to switch to a themed image, awareness can be raised, and a message can be sent. Although it may seem like a minor change, it can yield substantial results.
A single post about mental health may only appear in feeds for a few hours, but a month-long profile picture takeover can make a significant difference. This approach sends a clear message to employees, customers, and general followers that mental health is a priority for the brand.
Creating a mental health social media campaign for a brand is one way to support this critical aspect of our lives. Smaller businesses with fewer resources can still advocate through allyship by participating in an annual mental health campaign. This can help bring some limited awareness, but it is important to remember that mental health challenges occur 365 days a year.
Discover as many great mental health initiatives as possible and incorporate them into a social media schedule. This keeps the topic top-of-mind with followers. If there is a significant gap between official campaigns, plan mental-health-focused posts to share. Demonstrating a consistent investment in mental health advocacy, rather than occasionally joining a trend for reputation enhancement, is essential.
The cycle of stress, anxiety, and burnout can be challenging to manage. One effective way to demonstrate an organization’s commitment to mental health is by showcasing employees in their own words.
This can be done by asking them how they maintain balance in their lives or what advice they have for those struggling with work/life commitments. Sharing these stories adds a personal touch to the conversation and allows staff to feel genuinely connected. Simultaneously, it serves as a powerful reminder that the organization prioritizes mental health and is dedicated to creating a supportive work environment.
Employee spotlights can be featured on various platforms, such as social media, blog posts, or company websites, to develop visibility for the organization’s values. Showcasing employees in their own words can also help boost morale, demonstrate that their voices are being heard, and contribute to a more engaging corporate culture.
Tip 10
Link Company Values With Initiatives
Siiri Laaksonen, Co-founder, Chief Employer Brand Officer, TalentBee
Investing in mental well-being can be linked to a company’s values through concrete examples and stories. One such value might be “Always have a lunch break.” This goes beyond just taking a lunch break – it involves leading oneself and managing working hours in a remote work culture to make time for essential tasks. Compromising work-life balance can have serious consequences not only for the individual but also for the entire team.
Discussing crucial factors on social media can help arrange a time for lunch breaks, prevent overworking, and even transition to a 4-day work-week. These factors include working smarter, having a clear strategy, and focusing on specific points. Without focus, employees might end up overworking and missing lunch breaks, negatively impacting their work-life balance.
Sharing lunch moments on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram can remind employees and the audience that the company lives by this value every day. This demonstrates the importance of investing in mental well-being and how it aligns with the company’s values.
Promoting local experts in the field of mental well-being is an excellent way to show support for mental health. Collaborate with a marketing team to feature a different mental health professional each week throughout the month. This approach can showcase the work of practitioners, coaches, and others who specialize in various areas of mental health.
This strategy also serves as a form of community outreach, as it involves collaborating with local health professionals to raise awareness for the cause.
In addition to endorsing the need for mental wellness, promoting local practitioners contributes a sense of altruism to a brand image. Posts that demonstrate care for others in the community reflect the invisible values a company holds.
By helping dispel the stigmas against mental health, a company can reap numerous benefits, including community engagement and an enhanced brand image.
In 2023, all branding, including employer branding, should create an emotional connection. One way to demonstrate a commitment to employee mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month is by sharing a video that tells the story of an employee who suffered a loss and how the company empowered them through the difficult time. The video can show how the company provided access to resources like an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Telehealth through the company’s insurance plan, an onsite gym, a caring leader who checked in regularly, and a mental health app like Calm.
By sharing a real person’s story, viewers can relate more easily and understand the benefits of working for the company. This video not only demonstrates the company’s focus on mental health but also highlights the total compensation and strong company culture as a bonus.
Tip 13
Communicate How You Invest In Mental Health
Rachel Starkman, Global Employer Brand and Internal Communications Lead, EcoOnline
Transparently showcasing an organization’s investment in employees is highly recommended. For instance, consider whether the organization offers a wellness stipend for mental health services or a paid annual subscription to a mental health app. Additionally, it’s important to evaluate if the company has increased its investment in insurance-related services or if they provide specialized wellness sessions.
Candidates and employees are interested in understanding the specific benefits available to them. It’s essential to provide clear information about what the organization values, the exact offerings, the amount of investment, and the frequency of these benefits. This transparency can help attract and retain top talent while promoting a healthy work environment.
Employers should invest time in sharing stories from employees about what mental health means to them and its importance in the workplace. Employee testimonials are an authentic and genuine method of employer branding communications, as the story comes directly from employees. This can also involve highlighting specific mental health resources or programs (employee assistance programs, flexible work arrangements, or mental health days) that employees have utilized and are comfortable sharing publicly.
If an organization has hosted any events internally or in the community in support of Mental Health Awareness Month, this would be a great opportunity to share on social media. By highlighting team members and activities for Mental Health Awareness Month, an authentic employer brand can be built for attracting talent that values a supportive workplace culture.
Ready to promote mental health wellness on social media?
You’ve heard what the experts had to say, now it is your turn. Leave a comment below on your favorite tip to promote mental health wellness on social media.
