As companies increasingly try to offer resources for employees to help deal with mental health, a new program by Walmart is worth looking at.
The new program, called the Mental Health First Aid, teaches associates how to identify, understand and respond to people who are struggling with mental health challenges, according to a blog post by Kim Lupo, who is senior vice president of Global Total Rewards.
The four-hour training program, which will be available virtually and in-person at the Bentonville Walmart Home Office, will prepare associates to:
- Recognize signs and symptoms and provide direct assistance and support
- Properly reach out to emergency services on someone’s behalf
- Implement the Mental Health First Aid Action Plan
- Access emotional well-being benefits and resources
This initiative is in addition to the free 24/7 confidential counseling services with licensed therapists that are offered to both associates and their family members. Walmart also has virtual support groups with people who are struggling with similar issues, according to Lupo. Recently, the company expanded a pilot program with AirCare Health, that reaches out to associates on their medical plans to check-in and see how they are doing prior to them reporting a mental health issue.
In honor of Mental Health Month, the company has put together 30 activities for employees to strengthen their mental health. This is especially important given the fact that according to the CDC and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, mental health issues affect one in five Americans annually.