As Workplace Mental Health Worsens, Employee Engagement Plummets

Benefits, wellness programs and meditation apps are fine, but they don't address the underlying problem of unhealthy workplace cultures that aggravate mental health concerns. "A comprehensive approach to improving workplace mental health is necessary," Wong said.

For example, General Dynamics Information Technology, a global enterprise with 30,000 employees, launched its "How Are You, Really?" campaign in 2021 after an employee died by suicide. The campaign raises awareness around mental health and fosters discussions about what supports, in terms of interventions, benefits, flexibility and cultural change, GDIT's people need from each other and from the company.

"We've challenged our traditional approach to work and incorporated more flexibility and choice for employees when work and life become unbalanced," said GDIT President Amy Gilliland. "This includes reprioritizing workloads, allowing people to take meaningful paid time off to rebalance, and flexing people's hours. We've received an overwhelming response to 'How Are You, Really?' Almost every day, an employee tells me about how the campaign has helped them."