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U.S. Surgeon General Releases New Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being

On Oct. 20, 2022, the United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released framework outlining the foundational role workplaces play in the health and well-being of workers.

Due in many ways to the COVID-19 pandemic, the evolution of the workplace and the conversation around mental health has been a catalyst for the rethinking of how we view our work environment. Employers have a unique opportunity not only to invest in the mental health and well-being of their workforce, but to also strengthen their organizations’ success.

In a 2021 Mind Share Partners’ Mental Health at Work Report, 1,500 U.S. adult workers across for-profit, nonprofit and government sectors, 76% of respondents reported at least one symptom of mental health condition, an increase of 17% in just two years. While the pandemic did not create these work conditions, it worsened many of them.

“A healthy workforce is the foundation for thriving organizations and healthier communities,” said Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “As we recover from the worst of the pandemic, we have an opportunity and the power to make workplaces engines for mental health and well-being, and this Surgeon General’s Framework shows us how we can start. It will require organizations to rethink how they protect workers from harm, foster a sense of connection among workers, show workers that they matter, make space for their lives outside work, and support their growth. It will be worth it because the benefits will accrue for workers and organizations alike.”

In the framework, Dr. Murthy outlines five essentials for workplace mental health and well-being to help organizations develop, institutionalize, and update policies, processes, and practices that best support the mental health and well-being of all workers.

1. Protection from Harm: Creating the conditions for physical and psychological safety is a critical foundation for ensuring mental health and well-being in the workplace.
2. Connection and Community: Fostering positive social interaction and relationships in the workplace supports worker well-being.
3. Work-Life Harmony: Professional and personal roles can create work and non-work conflicts.
4. Mattering at Work: People want to know that they matter to those around them and that their work matters. Knowing you matter has been shown to lower stress, while feeling like you do not can increase the risk for depression.
5. Opportunities for Growth: When organizations create more opportunities for workers to accomplish goals based on their skills and growth, workers become more optimistic about their abilities and more enthusiastic about contributing to the organization.

Dr. Murthy states: “The Framework can be viewed as a starting point for organizations in updating and institutionalizing policies, processes, and practices to best support the mental health and well-being of workers. Ensuring workplace well-being requires an intentional, ongoing effort by employers and leaders across all levels, with the voices of workers and equity at the center. The five essentials can guide leaders, managers, and supervisors, as well as empower workers, to identify and communicate about priority organizational changes needed.”

As the country recovers from the pandemic, Dr. Murthy believes leaders across organizations have an opportunity to reinvest in the mental health and well-being of our nation’s workforce. “We can build workplaces that are engines of well-being — showing workers that they matter, that their work matters and that they have the support necessary to flourish.”

You can read Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s full Framework here.