Wellbeing isn’t black or white. It’s a wonderful shade of gray. It's micro-faceted and unique for each person. But there’s something we all have in common—the need for a healthy balance. And while the world has recently (and rightfully!) embraced mental health support, it’s important to remember that wellbeing is interconnected—especially when it comes to mental and physical health.

Why focus on the mind-body connection?

Because mental and physical health are intrinsically linked, and problems with one will lead to problems with another:

65%

of patients with mental disorders also suffer from one or more medical problems

80%

of visits to primary care doctors result from emotional distress and stress

Employees aren’t getting holistic help from their doctor, as studies also show that only 3% of non-psychiatric doctors teach stress management techniques. So, supporting your employees across physical and mental health can reduce their healthcare costs, and yours! A well-planned, well-strategized wellbeing program can make all the difference in supporting your employees’ health and your collective bank accounts.

That said, saying “focus on the mind-body connection” sounds great, but what does it actually mean? What does it look like? How do you offer targeted tools when every employee is on their own unique health journey? Being able to offer a personalized experience that is configured to your population’s needs is critical to success.

How to offer mind-body support

Use the right balance of tools and resources to support and encourage employees with all aspects of their health, creating a more comprehensive approach that allows them to bring their whole (and best) selves to work.

1. The times, they are a changin’ … Can your wellbeing program keep up?
Health and wellbeing trends will always evolve with the needs of your employees. Programs in the 90s focused on much-needed smoking cessation, while financial wellbeing rose to prominence after the early 2008 recession.

Today? A massive 76% of employees indicated that companies should do more to protect workers’ mental health. As you develop your wellbeing strategy, remember to write it in pencil—the wants and needs of today’s employees might not match those of tomorrow. That’s why it is vital to invest in a flexible solution, instead of being stuck with an outdated program until you can afford to start from scratch.

76%

of employees indicated that companies should do more to protect workers’ mental health

2. Listen, learn, and offer what employees need
Speaking of planning ahead, survey tools are the perfect way to gauge how your audience feels today and to anticipate what they’ll need tomorrow. By asking what employees need and offering targeted resources in response, you’ll show genuine care that your people will remember. As an added bonus, you can also increase EAP usage, which will in turn reduce company-wide healthcare costs.

For proof that it can be done, take a look at how Navigate helped Centura Health increase click-throughs to mental health and EAP resources during COVID-19.

3. Communicate your benefits (again and again and again)
Do your employees use your EAP? If you’re like most companies, the answer is no, because national EAP usage averages hover around 3 – 6%. But the reason could be as simple as lack of awareness—93% of companies offer EAP resources but nearly 50% of workers are unaware of them.

3–6%

National EAP usage averages

50%

of workers are unaware of EAP resources

Raise awareness of the benefits you already offer by showcasing your EAP resources, community benefits, and other resources within a centralized, easy-to-use online hub—like Navigate’s configurable wellbeing platform. Our new platform Total Health can help you do just that!

4. You know what people really, really like? Meaningful rewards and incentives.
If program engagement is stagnant, you might want to switch up your rewards. Navigate's reward partner Fringe offers unique options that allow participants to focus on mental health, physical health, work-life balance, and more. From babysitting services for overtaxed parents to app subscriptions for Calm, Headspace, Netflix, and more, your employees will associate these rewards with your company, and that’s the kind of connotation that leads to long-lasting loyalty.

Focus on the mind-body connection and connect with your employees like never before. Reach out to one of our wellbeing experts to learn more.

Sources

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/long-fuse-big-bang/201604/late-breaking-news-about-your-mind-body-health-connection
https://workforce.com/news/shaping-up-workplace-wellness-in-the-80s-and-today
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-organizations-can-promote-employee-wellness-now-and-post-pandemic/
https://www.cbiz.com/insights/articles/article-details/5-ways-to-increase-utilization-of-your-employee-assistance-program-eap
https://hrexecutive.com/hres-number-of-the-day-eap-awareness/#:~:text=While%20the%20vast%20majority%20(93,out%20from%20benefits%20provider%20Unum