December Visionary Ventures: Businesses can be part of the mental health solution
Visionary Ventures / By Rebecca Reimers
Holiday season in the mountains conjures up images of tranquility, contentment and celebration. Those of us who live in this region know that these postcard scenes are often just that, and the reality can be a daily struggle.
The stage for increased mental health problems has been set nationally, but locally there are extenuating factors at play. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of depression and anxiety increased three to four times from 2019 to 2020 as a result of the pandemic. Wyoming in particular has dismal statistics that outpace the national average and, sadly, has the highest suicide rate in the nation.
Add to this the burden of a resort town with enormous economic disparity and housing insecurity, both accelerated and exacerbated by the pandemic. Viewed through these multiple lenses, it’s easy to understand why we are in a mental health crisis in the Teton region.
Silicon Couloir recently hosted a Chance Meeting focused on making mental health a workplace priority with the aim of looking at practical creative tools and benefits available to support entrepreneurs, business owners and staff. Our expert panelists included Matt Murphy, CEO of Marvell Technology, a leader in innovative programs to promote employee wellness and work-life balance; Abigail Ridgway, managing director of FSG Consultants; and Deidre Ashley, executive director of the Jackson Hole Community Counseling Center. Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Anna Olson, who has also devoted enormous time and energy to this problem, also joined in the conversation. (The recording is available at SiliconCouloir.com/virtual-meetings.) Given the importance, we will share some of the insights here.
A recent community survey of health care providers and residents conducted by FSG Consulting revealed that poor mental health days have doubled since 2018. From a business perspective the result is lost productivity and creativity.
Furthermore, nearly half of those surveyed considered leaving the area in the past year due to housing instability, lack of stable employment or insufficient income.
“We’re seeing people who haven’t struggled before,” Ashley said. “The constant uncertainty and changing environment of COVID has resulted in PTSD symptoms for many.” All signs point to higher employee turnover and more failed businesses if these trends continue.
Nearly half of those surveyed locally feel lonely, excluded or isolated. What if, Ridgway proposed, the workplace served as a solution by providing connectivity and support. Our panelists shared proven suggestions to realize this vision. One vital solution is to provide benefits for mental health and remove the stigma of using them.
“I talk about [mental health] to the company,” Murphy said. “This is like a physical illness and it’s got to be treated with dignity.”
Pre-COVID, studies from the World Health Organization showed that every $1 spent on mental health resulted in a $4 return in improved health and productivity. In other words, it’s money well spent.
Benefits aren’t limited to insurance. You can provide wellness days or an individual fund for activities of choice that provide joy and satisfaction for employees, as exists for Counseling Center staff.
At Marvell, Murphy implemented long weekend company “shutdowns” to give its nearly 7,000 employees an intrusion-free break. He also engages outside counseling and coaching services from Modern Health, an online support service. He counseled employers to include family members in offerings via multiple communication channels so everyone is aware of offerings.
Perhaps one silver lining of COVID is bringing this conversation to light.
“As a community we [at the Counseling Center] made it OK for people to say they are not OK and provide resources,” Ashley said. The counseling center offers a range of counseling services for individuals and families using a variety of nationally renowned therapies with trained professionals.
Olson relayed that mental health is now a priority on the state level. Wyoming workforce training grants may soon be available to assist with mental health needs, rather than just traditional job training. The chamber is launching Jackson Hole Happenings, a program for area newcomers designed to orient workers to local resources and a “community approach to connection,” Olson said. Additional resources are linked to on the Silicon Couloir webpage noted above.
“We need to get really creative about the way we approach this. ... and be proactive rather than reactive and make opportunities for connection,” Ashley said. “That is mental health.”