May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Prioritizing Well-being in the Workplace

Cynthia Jenkins
May 16
3 min read

Updated: Jun 3

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time dedicated to increasing visibility around mental health challenges and breaking the stigma that surrounds them. This month isn't just for healthcare providers or therapists; it's important for workplaces too. After all, adults spend the majority of their waking hours at work. How they are treated during those hours significantly impacts their mental well-being.

As HR consultants, we often see the ripple effects of inadequate mental health support in the workplace. These results include low morale, high turnover, absenteeism, burnout, and even legal issues when situations escalate. However, we also witness transformation when leaders prioritize mental wellness as part of their organizational culture.

Mental Health Is a Workplace Issue

Mental health isn’t solely about managing crises or accommodating extreme cases. It manifests daily in more subtle ways. Consider the employee who struggles to focus, the team member who is constantly exhausted, or the manager who seems short-tempered or disengaged. If these signs go unnoticed or unaddressed, they quietly diminish productivity, collaboration, and retention.

What many employers fail to realize is that supporting mental health doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Often, it revolves around small, strategic changes that shift culture, reinforce care, and encourage open communication.

Signs of Mental Health Struggles

It's crucial to recognize the signs of mental health struggles in your workplace. Early intervention can lead to improved outcomes. Employees who feel supported are likely to be more engaged and productive.

The HR Consultant's Role in Mental Health Strategy

This is where HR consultants can make a substantial impact. Whether addressing cultural concerns, compliance gaps, or performance issues, mental health is often a core theme running beneath the surface.

Here are a few ways we assist businesses in creating mentally healthier workplaces:

Policy Reviews and Updates: We ensure that policies support flexibility, time off, and accommodation—not just in writing but in practice.
Manager Training: We coach leaders on recognizing burnout, having supportive conversations, and fostering psychological safety.
Communication Strategy: We help organizations share resources and reminders in ways that normalize mental health conversations.
Crisis Planning: We establish protocols for mental health emergencies, including procedures for when an employee expresses a need for help.

Fractional HR support is especially beneficial for small businesses that may not have in-house expertise or capacity. We bring an impartial perspective and customizable solutions without the overhead of a full-time HR team.

Supporting Business Owners’ Mental Health

Mental Health Awareness Month is a great opportunity to check in on yourself. If you’re a business owner or leader, you're managing your team's needs, your clients’ expectations, and your company’s future—all at once. That’s a lot of responsibility. Without the right support, it's easy to overlook your mental health.

Fractional HR support can help relieve some of that burden. By outsourcing stress related to compliance, conflict resolution, employee relations, and documentation, you free up time and energy. This way, you can focus on what you do best, avoiding the isolation that often accompanies leadership.

Managing Stress as a Leader

Leaders face unique challenges. Stress can take a toll on your mental health and subsequently affect your team. Making your well-being a priority can create a ripple effect throughout your organization.

It’s Time to Lead with Humanity

Mental health shouldn’t be treated as a side project or seasonal campaign. It should be woven into the fabric of how a business operates. When employees feel seen, supported, and safe, they perform at their best—and they remain loyal.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, reflect on how your company supports or unintentionally strains the well-being of its people. Whether you are an overwhelmed founder or part of a growing company without a formal HR team, know that help is available. The impact of getting it right is significant and long-lasting.

Remember, mental health in the workplace matters, not just for employees but for everyone involved in the organization.