HBR Guide to Better Mental Health at Work

Though the pandemic increased the visibility of our whole selves, making virtual vulnerability a more regular workplace occurrence, stigma surrounding mental illness remains. It's easy to ask for time off when you break a leg; it's difficult to share with your boss and colleagues if you're suffering a depressive episode. And, how do those conversations go if you're the boss? You want to say and do the right thing to support your people and your organization-and avoid legal issues. Research shows that 1 in 4 adults will have a mental health issue in their lifetime, and yet we're still ill-equipped at work to address this common experience. The HBR Guide to Better Mental Health at Work collects advice from a variety of experts on addressing an array of mental health issues in the workplace, from supporting someone in a panic attack to navigating sensitive conversations to creating systemic and structural supports for all employees. Whether you suffer from a chronic condition or you manage someone who does, you'll find practical advice on creating and upholding policies; providing resources, support, and accommodations; and steps you can take to reduce the stigma and improve mental health in the workplace. You'll learn how to: talk about mental health at work, make a disclosure, take a disability leave, cope more effectively with feelings of anxiety and depression, manage a chronic condition and your career-successfully, give support without overstepping, create a more empathetic culture, launch an employee resource group to provide support and connection.

Why You Should Read?

• Expert advice from Harvard Business Review on addressing mental health issues in the workplace, including supporting someone in a panic attack and navigating sensitive conversations.
• Practical guidance on creating and upholding policies, providing resources, support, and accommodations for employees with mental health conditions.
• Steps to reduce stigma and improve mental health in the workplace, fostering a more empathetic culture.
• Strategies for managing a chronic condition while advancing your career, and for giving support without overstepping.

About the Author

Harvard Business Review is the leading management journal published by Harvard Business School. It provides professionals with insights and research on management, leadership, and organizational behavior. The HBR Guide series offers practical advice from experts on a wide range of business topics, helping readers navigate complex workplace challenges.