The U.S. Surgeon General Launches New Framework For Mental Health & Well-Being In The Workplace

Workplace Mental Health Nonprofit, Mind Share Partners, Contributes Its Evidence-Based Practices and Expertise To Its Development

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA (October 20th, 2022) — Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General’s Framework highlighting the essential role workplaces play in promoting the health and well-being of workers and communities. The Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health & Well-Being in the Workplace will help organizations develop policies and practices that support the mental health and well-being of all workers.

Mind Share Partners, a national nonprofit that is changing the culture of workplace mental health, was among a select number of organizations asked to provide feedback and contribute to the framework and accompanying recommendations. 

Mind Share Partners takes a proactive culture change approach with a DEIB lens, supporting leading organizations in creating a lasting culture change to support mental health in their workplaces. Mind Share Partners provided key insights—informed by its work and philosophy—on the "five essentials" within the Surgeon General’s Framework and recommendations for the components under them, including:

• The language and framing used, such as “normalize mental health” and understanding that mental health is a spectrum

• Thinking about workplace mental health training as a component important to supporting employee mental health in multiple categories 

• Incorporating programs like mental health ERGS and peer listening

• The key roles leaders, managers, and everyone plays in supporting mental health–making it a collective priority for organizations, among other suggestions. 

Quote from the Surgeon General in the official press release: 

“A healthy workforce is the foundation for thriving organizations and healthier communities,” said Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “As we recover from the worst of the pandemic, we have an opportunity and the power to make workplaces engines for mental health and well-being, and this Surgeon General’s Framework shows us how we can start. It will require organizations to rethink how they protect workers from harm, foster a sense of connection among workers, show workers that they matter, make space for their lives outside work, and support their growth. It will be worth it, because the benefits will accrue for workers and organizations alike.”

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the nature of work for many. The pandemic highlighted how workplaces directly impact mental health and personal well-being and how employers can exacerbate the tension between caregiving and job responsibilities. The link between our work and our health has become even more evident. Mind Share Partners’ 2021 Mental Health at Work Report found that:

• 76% of U.S. workers reported at least one symptom of a mental health condition (anxiety, depression), an increase of 17 percentage points in just two years.

• 84% of respondents reported at least one workplace factor that had a negative impact on their mental health. Get the full report here. 

The Five Essentials

The Surgeon General’s Framework focuses on Five Essentials for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being—highlighting the goals organizations should have in developing, institutionalizing, and updating policies, processes, and practices to best support the mental health and well-being of all workers:

1. Protection from Harm: Creating the conditions for physical and psychological safety is a critical foundation for ensuring mental health and well-being in the workplace.  

2. Connection and Community: Fostering positive social interaction and relationships in the workplace supports worker well-being.  

3. Work-Life Harmony: Professional and personal roles can create work and nonwork conflicts.  

4. Mattering at Work: People want to know that they matter to those around them and that their work matters. Knowing you matter has been shown to lower stress, while feeling like you do not can increase the risk for depression. 

5. Opportunities for Growth: When organizations create more opportunities for workers to accomplish goals based on their skills and growth, workers become more optimistic about their abilities and more enthusiastic about contributing to the organization.

Mind Share Partners believes that the future of workplace mental health demands culture change — with more vulnerability, compassion, and sustainable ways of working. The Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being is a pivotal guide that shows organizations that these ideals are achievable and offers a foundation that workplaces of any size, across any industry, can build upon.

Learn more: surgeongeneral.gov/workplace

Contacts

Nina Tomaro

Marketing and Communications Lead

Mind Share Partners

ntomaro@mindsharepartners.org

About Mind Share Partners

Mind Share Partners is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization that is changing the culture of workplace mental health so that both employees and organizations can thrive.

We help employers create mentally healthy workplaces through consulting, training, and advocacy. Challenges like anxiety, burnout, depression are not just an individual employee’s responsibility. It’s a collective responsibility. That’s why our time-tested approach hinges on changing company culture–and using a DEI lens to do so.