The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in more Americans experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. A recent survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that almost 41 percent of American adults struggle with mental-health issues stemming from the pandemic. So, let’s look at five ways to design a better mental-health future for your stressed-out team.

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Transcript of video:

My name is Nick Leighton and for the next few minutes you are exactly where you want to be.

This is originally recorded November 10, 2020 for Facebook Live - uncut and uncensored.

Over the past few weeks we looked at you as a business owner - and why you may be feeling anxious or even angry.

This week - let’s look at five ways to design a better mental-health future for your stressed-out team.

We know that mental health occurs along a continuum, with thriving and positive mental health at one end and serious mental illnesses or addictions at the other. In between, however, there are many shades of substance use, anxiety, depression, and other conditions that vary in intensity and impact. Every leader must ask, “What are we doing to help our team stay physically and emotionally healthy?”

Far from being a soft issue, there is an economic cost to your business. For the global economy, the loss of productivity because of poor mental health can be as high as $1 trillion per year.

What can be done? This is what can be done.

1 - Start the conversation

Demonstrate commitment from the top and lead by example, communicating that during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond, it is important to address stress, mental illness, and substance use.

2 - Make it real

Understand the impact of psychological distress, mental illnesses, and substance-use disorders on the workforce. This includes using team surveys, benefits reports, disability claims, and productivity assessments.

As a business leader, you probably absorb and deal with psychological distress differently - be open to that.

3 - Identify mental health issues

Invest in training to equip leaders with the skills, language, and norms to support your team. Consider a short training for team leaders that focuses on recognizing signs of distress, making clear that it’s driven by a genuine desire to connect those effected with the right support and resources.

4 - Offer support

Make it easy to access help, ensuring that everything from self-help tools to high-quality treatment providers are visible, affordable, and available virtually as well as in person.

5 - Make it count

Create an inclusive culture where those seeking treatment and self-care are supported, recovery is celebrated, and social connectivity is a priority.

Getting through 2020 is going to be different for most of us… as a business leader you need to be aware of this, and support your team - they are your biggest asset.

Now it’s your turn. How are you supporting the mental-health of your team? Any good advice for others? Post here – I would love to know.

If you found just one nugget of advice or inspiration in this quick video useful, then please do me a small favor - like and share.

Follow this page & join me next Tuesday - when we’ll take another look into Entrepreneurship and business ownership for today’s economy.

My name is Nick Leighton and I wish you passion, profit, and happiness.

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