Supporting Employee Mental Health During the Holidays

 
Employee Mental Health
 

As leaders, our goal is to foster a supportive and inclusive workplace culture. As we approach the end of the year it’s important to acknowledge that while the holiday season is joyful for some, it is the most stressful time of year for many. Creating intentional mental health support during this season demonstrates compassion, empathy, and a commitment to your team’s well-being.

Why Mental Health Support is Important

Research shows that stress, depression, and anxiety levels increase for many during the holidays.

  • A 2023 survey by the American Psychological Association found that 89% of U.S. adults feel stressed during the holiday season, with 41% reporting higher stress levels compared to other times of the year. 

  • The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) found that 64% of people living with a mental illness felt that their conditions worsened around the holidays.

  • In a 2023 survey conducted by the American Heart Association, 63% of respondents claimed that the holiday season is more stressful than tax season.

It’s no wonder many companies are looking at how best to support their teams' mental health during the holiday season. With year-end deadlines, launch preparations, and personal obligations colliding, the need for intentional support has never been more critical.

Building Your Holiday Mental Health Strategy

A good place to start is by reviewing your current wellness initiatives. You can enhance existing programs or create new ones dedicated to holiday season support. If you are starting from scratch, here are a few things to consider:

  • Gain expertise: Partner with Human Resources as your ally when implementing a comprehensive mental health strategy.

  • Respect boundaries: Honor time off and non-work hours, avoiding non-critical communications during employee personal time.

  • Define flexible work arrangements: Clearly outline options for remote work, adjusted schedules, and async collaboration during the holiday season.

  • Adjust expectations: Consider reducing sprint velocities and postponing non-essential launches to accommodate holiday schedules.

  • Ensure accessibility: Provide clear paths to mental health resources and support services for all team members.

Essential Resources for Supporting Employee Mental Health

Consider incorporating these tools and resources into your mental health strategy:

  • Digital Mental Health Platforms:

    • Headspace for Work or Calm for Business for meditation and mindfulness

    • BetterHelp or Talkspace for virtual therapy access

    • Sleepio for addressing sleep challenges

  • Workflow Management:

    • Async communication tools like Loom for reducing meeting fatigue

    • Encourage employees to block focus time and breaks on their calendars.

    • Project management platforms like Linear or Jira for visualizing workload

  • Team Support Resources:

    • Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) with 24/7 counseling

    • Wellness stipends for personal health initiatives

    • Health insurance plans with robust mental health coverage

    • Crisis support hotline information readily available

Implementing Your Mental Health Support Strategy

  • Clearly communicate: Share support initiatives in all-hands meetings as well as mental health resources, and host informal discussions about mental health and coping during the holidays.

  • Empower managers: Train leaders to recognize signs of stress, respond with empathy, speak with HR about managing mental health conversations and about available resources, and maintain appropriate confidentiality.

  • Acknowledge individual needs: Remember that holiday stress affects everyone differently. Tailor a support plan based on individual needs.

 

By demonstrating empathy and providing meaningful support, you can make a difference in your team's well-being during the demanding holiday season.

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