WHY COMPANIES ARE BRINGING MENTAL HEALTH IN-HOUSE

The next big workplace perk isn't unlimited PTO or fancy office snacks. Progressive companies are investing in something their employees actually need: on-demand access to therapists and career coaches. With the stigma of mental health at work finally crumbling, there’s a quiet revolution happening in workplace wellness: companies are moving beyond surface-level perks and bringing therapists and career coaches in-house. It's a shift that acknowledges what many of us have known for years: mental health doesn't clock out when we clock in.

While some companies still think a free Headspace app subscription counts as mental health support, others are taking a bolder step. In a job market where over half of corporate employees are heading for the exits, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of not investing in employee wellbeing has never been higher.

Furthermore, the business case for mental health support has never been more compelling. A groundbreaking WHO study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that every dollar invested in treatment for depression and anxiety yields a four-dollar return through improved employee health and work capability. When you combine this with Lyra’s 2024 State of the Workforce Mental Health Report findings that 46% of U.S. employees report mental health challenges affecting their focus, and 36% citing decreased productivity, the math becomes simple: mental health support isn't just a nice-to-have perk; it's a smart business investment!

Instead of waiting for employees to reach a breaking point, companies like Spring Health and Modern Health, are partnering with Fortune 500 companies to provide integrated mental healthcare that encourage regular check-ins and preventive care.

Perhaps most importantly, this new model is changing how we think about career development. When mental health support is integrated with career coaching, employees aren't just managing stress–they're building resilience and planning for growth. It's a holistic approach that recognizes success at work isn't just about skills and strategy, it's about maintaining mental and emotional wellbeing too.