What can HR organizations do to help employees with their emotional well-being? In Part 2 of our conversation, two wellness experts — Dr. Kristen Lee, Ed.D., LICSW, an award-winning behavioral science professor, clinician and author, and Unum’s Laurie Mitchell —discuss how organizations can help inspire a culture of resilience. 

Top takeaways

• Have you listened to Part 1 yet? Listen here.
• Before the coronavirus pandemic, there were many concerning indicators around mental health globally. [02:21]
• Research is showing that resilience happens within a community. Organizations can create “a culture of health thinking and health giving,” where each person feels they are cared for. [04:06]
• In the Strong Minds at Work Report published by Unum last year, a disconnect emerged. When asked “what mental health resources are available at your company,”  [06:56]
• Role modeling can be a powerful way to educate about mental health. [12:21]
• Mental health first aid training programs, by organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), are another way to provide support for the workforce. [13:22]

 Resources:

• Book:Mentalligence: A New Psychology of Thinking: Learn What it Takes to Be More Agile, Mindful and Connected in Today's World, 50% off affinity discount for podcast listeners. Select the "Buy from us" button and type in code “Resilience2020.” 
• Course:Cultivating Resilience Through Crisis, free and on demand during May 2020
• Report (PDF download): Mental Health in the Workplace, May 2020 Update
• Active Minds
• Caring for Coronavirus Anxiety, a project by Shine
• Harvard/McLean Hospital, mental health resources
• American Society of Suicide Prevention

Featured speakers
Dr. Kristen Lee
Behavioral science professor, clinician and author

Dr. Kristen Lee, Ed.D., LICSW, known as “Dr. Kris,” is an award-winning behavioral science professor, clinician and author. As the Lead Faculty for Behavioral Science at Northeastern University, Dr. Kris’s clinical, research and teaching interests include individual and organizational well-being and resilience. She is the author of RESET: Make the Most of Your Stress, winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards Motivational Book of 2015, and Mentalligence: A New Psychology of Thinking: Learn What it Takes to Be More Agile, Mindful and Connected in Today's World. She is the host of Mentalligence Radio and her Ted talk, The Risk You Must Take,has over 309,000 views.

More resources:
Ep. 13: Mental well-being in the age of COVID-19, Part 1
Listen now.