World Mental Health Day serves as a reminder that wellbeing is a vital part of a productive and resilient workforce. Each year, the day raises awareness of mental health and encourages employers to reflect on the support they provide.
It offers an opportunity to emphasize the importance of mental health and for businesses to reflect on practical steps they could take to reduce risks and promote a safer, healthier working environment.
Mental health challenges remain a pressing issue for U.S. employers. SHRM’s 2025 Workplace Mental Health insights report found that 31% of U.S. workers feel stressed because of their job often or always. Findings like these highlight the need to put wellbeing on equal footing with performance.
As an ANAB-accredited certification body, we certify organizations to internationally recognized standards such as ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety), which can help businesses strengthen workplace health and safety practices.
Simple Actions to Encourage Wellbeing at Work
Even small steps can make a difference in shaping a positive workplace culture. Here are four practical ideas U.S. employers can consider putting into practice:
- Share wellbeing resources: Providing access to helpful materials, such as employee assistance program (EAP) links, wellbeing podcasts, or apps, can help to raise awareness and encourage support.
- Encourage breaks that matter: Promoting meaningful breaks away from the desk can help employees reset to help improve focus, safety, and overall wellbeing.
- Recognize contributions: Acknowledging a colleague’s effort can boost morale and reinforce a culture of appreciation.
- Consider walking meetings: Taking discussions on the move supports physical wellbeing and often leads to more open, constructive conversations.
Tackling Mental Health in the Workplace
Mental health is an integral part of both workplace safety and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibilities. Factors such as workload, working relationships, and environment can all contribute to stress, anxiety, or depression, which impact performance and collaboration.
Because stigma is still a barrier, employers could explore creating supportive cultures by assessing Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) risks, improving working conditions, and providing access to confidential services such as helplines.
ISO 45001 and Workplace Wellbeing
While everyday actions are valuable, long-term progress requires structured approaches. ISO standards help provide a foundation for sustainable improvements.
ISO 45001, the international standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) management, helps organizations to:
- Identify and manage workplace health and safety risks
- Integrate wellbeing into health and safety systems
- Strengthen resilience and improve safety outcomes
Explore our Ultimate Guide to ISO 45001
Learn more about ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System Benefits.Discover the Benefits of ISO 45001 for Workplace Safety
Prioritizing mental health can benefit both employees and organizations. Learn how ISO 45001 certification can support your business – contact our team today.
