Employee mental health is a growing priority for organizations, yet many workers continue to struggle. In 2024, 42% of employees rated their mental health as fair or poor, yet only 1 in 4 feel comfortable seeking professional care.

More importantly, 89% believe their employer should provide well-being support, yet more than half say their company has yet to take meaningful action. This gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

‍As an HR professional, you understand that when employees thrive, so does the business. Investing in employee mental health isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a strategic advantage. 

With Mental Health Awareness Month happening in May, now is a great time to start planning new ways to support your employees’ mental health. Here are four creative ways to start supporting your employees’ mental health.

1. Step Challenge: Movement Meets Team Building

Physical activity is essential for mental well-being, yet the average worker spends up to 9 hours a day seated. A step challenge encourages movement while fostering some friendly competition and team spirit.
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How to implement it with HEAL:

• Turnkey step challenge – Our Wellness Platform seamlessly tracks steps from any device and integrates them directly into your wellness program.
• Set a collective step goal – Aim for 7,000–8,000 steps/day per participant to encourage consistent movement.
• Automated tracking & leaderboards – Keep employees engaged with real-time progress updates inside the HEAL app.
• Incentivize participation – Reward top performers or teams with small prizes to boost motivation. The HEAL team manages all logistics, ensuring a seamless process for your team.

HEAL makes it easy to launch a step challenge that’s engaging, trackable, and completely automated—so you can focus on supporting employee wellness, not managing logistics.

2. Offer a Mental Health Day Off

Sometimes, the best way to support mental well-being is to simply give employees time to rest. A designated mental health day—separate from vacation or sick leave—gives employees permission to recharge without guilt.

Whether you designate a company-wide mental health day, allow employees to take a day off during Mental Health Awareness Month, or offer flexibility year-round, this initiative sends a clear message: their well-being matters.

Why it works:

• Encourages employees to prioritize their mental health and self-care.
• Helps reduce burnout and unplanned stress-related days off.
• Creates a supportive workplace culture where mental health is valued and reinforced.

3. Host Mental Health Workshops

Many employees want to take care of their mental health but don’t always know where to start. A well-designed workshop provides practical tools they can apply immediately, helping them build resilience and improve their overall well-being.

Looking for Mental Health Resources?‍

HEAL offers a Lunch & Learn multi-part series led by psychotherapist, Nicole Legg, covering topics like the role of self-talk, debunking self-care myths, or recognizing mental health changes.
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These expert-led sessions give employees the professional strategies they need to reduce stress, strengthen resilience, and improve workplace engagement—leading to a healthier, more productive team.

Why HEAL’s Lunch & Learns Are 3x More Engaging:

• Interactive workshops and Q&As instead of passive lectures
• Supportive handouts, video recordings, and actionable tips 
• Turnkey implementation to bring mental health education to the workplace

4. Schedule Time for Team Breathwork or Meditation

Encouraging employees to take short, intentional breaks can work wonders for focus and mental well-being. According to this study, meditating for 13 minutes a day improved attention, memory, and mood after just 8 weeks.

A simple 10-15-minute calendar hold for a guided breathwork or meditation session helps reset the nervous system and promote mindfulness. 

How to integrate it into the workday:

• Schedule it at the start of the day or mid-afternoon slump to remind employees to practice this new habit daily.
• Offer live or recorded guided sessions to accommodate different schedules.
• Encourage participation, but make it optional to respect individual preferences.

In just a few minutes a day, you can help your employees feel more focused, less stressed, and more engaged.

Start with our 6-minute Stress Reset Meditation today.

Supporting Mental Health Is a Year-Round Effort

While Mental Health Awareness Month is a great time to implement these initiatives, prioritizing employee well-being should be an ongoing commitment. 

HEAL makes it easy with turnkey wellness challenges designed to help employees build healthier habits in nutrition, movement, and mental health. Interested in seeing what year-round support looks like? Read through HEAL’s 2025 Mental Wellbeing Program Roadmap.

Our 4-, 8-, and 12-week Wellness Challenge programs keep teams engaged through our desktop and mobile app, where they can track progress, check leaderboard standings, and get rewarded for their participation. The end result?

Employees that are less stress, have more energy, better productivity, and feel supported leading to lower attrition. Ready to invest in your team’s well-being? Let’s get started.