Join our keynote speakers as they address the overlooked connection between workplace psychosocial hazards (e.g. job insecurity, toxic leadership, and chronic stressors embedded in work environments) and their profound impact on mental health, including the risk of suicidal ideation and suicide. They'll speak to theory, along with the practical application of mental health well-being and mental illness, to reinforce that creating mentally healthy workplaces isn’t just about support services—it’s about redesigning conditions of work to prevent harm before it starts.
This session will explore the case study of a former Koop Award winning program at DENSO Automotive, a North American employer with a unique journey that is linking leadership training with Neuroscience & Human Performance research. The program concurrently aims to impact business performance, engagement survey scores, mental well-being, psychological safety, leadership burnout, safety decision making and physical health. Through organic evolution it represents an innovative and exciting total worker health approach to workplace health and human performance.
This session will feature three winners of the Carolyn C. Mattingly Award for Mental Health in the Workplace. The Award recognizes and celebrates exemplary organizations that advance the mental health and well-being of their workforce, while also serving as role models for other employers.
The panelists will address these questions:
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EVERYONE HAS MENTAL HEALTH. The importance of workplace culture where everyone can thrive and flourish has never been more relevant. But do we really know HOW to do that? This workshop will shine a light on key lessons learned and challenge you to reflect on practices within organizations that support MH in your unique environment.
As brain health becomes a critical determinant of the future of work, employers must assume a central role in shaping mental health initiatives. A healthy brain is essential for productivity, creativity, and overall well-being, making it a crucial factor in workplace success. This session will explore why brain health matters to employers, the role of the workplace in mental health, and the connections between mental health, neurological health and workplace performance. Additionally, we’ll examine how mental well-being influences worker skill-building, including problem-solving, adaptability, and continuous learning—key competencies for the future workforce. Investing in mental health not only improves employee well-being but also enhances their ability to develop new skills and remain resilient in an evolving job market. We’ll look at real-world practices’ companies are taking to improve employee mental health, as well as persistent gaps that stalls progress to healthy, sustainable, skill-forward work.
Mental Health is an integral part of employee overall well-being. It can affect not only physical health, but also workplace performance. Mental health issues can lead to reduced productivity, poor communication, and social withdrawal. By prioritizing mental health in the workplace, employees can flourish, and businesses thrive. Developing a plan to assist employees involves analyzing the medical and pharmacy data, productivity/presenteeism/absenteeism data, organizational impact, and cost trends. Learning how to create a culture and strategies where employees feel safe and supported is a meaningful step to preventing small problems from escalating into larger issues. Healthier and happier employees positively impact both employee retention and workforce productivity.
Employee mental health is a business imperative, impacting productivity, engagement, retention, and healthcare costs. Yet, many organizations struggle to move from awareness to action, relying on surface-level wellness initiatives that fail to address underlying challenges. HERO tackles this issue through a variety of initiatives, helping employers create meaningful, evidence-based strategies. This session will feature a two-part discussion based on two HERO publications published last year: a comprehensive evaluation of 66 validated workforce mental health assessments, and an employer’s guide to mental health and well-being resources.
Assessments are a powerful yet underutilized tool to assist in driving meaningful change. This session will review HERO’s published research and expand upon it with a practical framework for selecting, evaluating, and implementing assessments that align with organizational needs. Attendees will learn how to navigate the vast landscape of assessment tools, ensure employee participation and trust, and translate data into actionable strategies. By integrating assessments into a broader mental health initiative, organizations can move from reactive solutions to a proactive, data-driven approach that fosters a mentally healthy, high-performing workplace.
In HERO’s best practice workforce mental health and well-being framework, the fourth element is to “provide and promote access to evidence-based, high quality mental health care.” The list of resource options in the commercial market is as wide as it is deep, which can confound and paralyze decision makers. The goal of this session is to offer straightforward guidance: each of the five categories will be clearly defined, key insights into each category will be offered along with questions to ask a prospective vendor partner, and potential red flags will be identified. The solutions that will be covered include behavioral health benefits, employee assistance programs, digital mental health, informational resources, and mental health training.
Mental health in the workplace requires more than standalone programs—it demands a systemic shift in culture, leadership engagement, and sustained commitment. In this discussion, we will explore how organizations can embed mental well-being into their culture, from early awareness efforts to comprehensive strategies. Additionally, we will examine the critical role of workplace change and its impact on employee mental health, highlighting how different types of change—such as organizational restructuring—can shape well-being outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into effectively advocating for mental health initiatives, tailoring interventions to support employees during transitions, and avoiding "carewashing" in times of uncertainty. Through real-world examples and lessons from global programs, this session will equip leaders with actionable strategies to foster resilient, supportive workplace environments where employees can thrive.
Now what? In true HERO fashion, we will provide an opportunity for small group discussions to reflect on what we've learned from the experts, synthesize learnings, and identify how it can be applied within our organizations. Skilled facilitators will take each group through a process of dynamic discovery for real-world application.
The U.S. Surgeon General's Framework for Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being calling attention to the role of the worker's voice in cultivating a mentally safe work environment. Unfortunately, organizations continue to rely heavily on surveys, and overlook the importance of direct, boots-on-the-ground verbal conversations. Backed by peer-reviewed research, we’ll examine how verbal dialogue can uncover, and provide solutions to, many of the mental health challenges workplaces face today. We'll then hear from a panel of employees, made up of four of our five generations in today's workplace, who will share firsthand experiences and insights on what they need from their employers to support their mental health at work.
Sponsored by Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES) to receive Category I continuing education contact hours. Provider ID#101039
