Articles and research from our team on the future of mental healthcare for young adults.

Representation matters, especially on college campuses. 

When a student connects with someone who shares a similar background and/or experiences–whether pertaining to race, class, sex, ability, geography, or for any other reason–they are likely to feel seen and heard. Research shows that (for better or worse) we tend to trust people like ourselves, in part because interactions “feel more fluent and easier to process.” For college students, this kind of recognition can not only be comforting, but lifesaving.  

Colleges and universities can offer this crucial sense of familiarity and meet the clinical preferences of their broad student body by offering more diverse care. College counseling centers can also train on-campus mental health professionals in cultural humility so they can sensitively work with students whose experiences they might not fully understand. 

Here are four key areas that can be addressed to improve the student experience:

Students of color are vastly underserved in college counseling offices and in the wider realm of mental healthcare. A 2019 survey from the American Psychological Association (APA) reveals that about 83% of the U.S. psychology workforce is white. The second largest group at 7% are Hispanic, 4% are Asian, and just 3% are Black. This is a far cry from racial parity. In an equitable workforce, 60% of practitioners would be white, 18% Hispanic or Latino/a, 13% Black, 6% Asian, and 3% with other racial makeup, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Recognize the Unique Needs of Students with Disabilities

While only 5% of psychologists have disabilities, 25% of the U.S. population has a disability. The shortage of counselors who identify as disabled is real, according to this essay by wheelchair-user and psychotherapist Lauren Presutti. Research sponsored by the American Counseling Association invites counselors to equip themselves to understand the nuanced needs of clients with disabilities. Here’s what clinicians can do:

Use proper language to describe the client and their disability

Identify personal and societal barriers encountered by individuals with disabilities

Help the client adjust to and overcome those barriers

Devise a theoretical framework to understanding life with a disability

Learn counseling techniques to enhance therapeutic effectiveness

Be mindful of general counseling tips when working with students with disabilities 

According to the ACA, “Counselors who employ this information and these recommendations as a part of their therapeutic relationships, open themselves up to the possibility of learning about the experience and ‘voice’ of disability.”

Increase Accessibility for Students Facing Financial Hardships 

The number one reason students drop out is due to finances, and students emerging from poverty face an increased risk of leaving. Many students, especially those with a low socioeconomic background, are battling economic challenges, ranging from housing instability to food insecurity. Some can’t afford to take time off work, need specialized mental health care which they can’t afford, or experience distrust of mental health professionals. 

One of the many ways college counseling centers can expand their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and make mental health care more accessible is through service expansions. It’s not always possible to find local providers with diverse backgrounds or specialized training. Telehealth providers, however, can work with counseling centers to provide sessions after-hours and offer more diverse providers who share students’ backgrounds and/or experiences.  

Take Actionable Steps Toward Equitable Offerings 

There are many other student populations in greater need of support, including LGBTQ+ students, first-generation college students, and international students, many of whom experience loneliness, homesickness, or fear of discrimination. 

The good news? Colleges and universities can take concrete, measurable steps to improve the quality of mental health care for students. Here are some recommended actions guided in part from the NACAC:

Review admissions policies to ensure your practices are equitable

Hire diverse clinicians and other campus staff that mirror the student population

Prioritize funding for DEI positions and implement diverse hiring protocols

Train clinicians with sensitivity so they are better equipped to work with underserved populations

Build partnerships with telehealth providers and community organizations that can provide additional support for students

Refine your institutional statements so they better reflect your values

Promote a culture of belonging among staff and students by developing a network of diverse representatives across all departments and providing clear opportunities for advancement

Foster pathways to leadership for all students through workshops, award recognition, and collaborative opportunities that elicit their strengths

“Students need to see themselves reflected in the face of postsecondary education,” a 2022 report from the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) confirms. It is critical for colleges and universities to offer diverse student outreach and care.

At Mantra Health, we have employed a diverse provider network. Our therapists and psychiatrists are experts in young adult mental health, trained in cultural humility, and offer unique specializations to better meet the needs of college students. To find more about our services and how to enhance your college counseling programs, learn more here. 

Why Diverse Mental Health Care is a Necessity on College Campuses 

Seventy-five percent of mental health disorders develop by the age of 24 and nearly half of all college-age students are experiencing depression, anxiety, or both conditions and in the past year, 13% of college-age students considered suicide. These are just some of the reasons why we all need to invest in young adult mental health.

At the GDBHT 2022 Summit, Mantra Health led a panel on “Why You Should Invest in Young Adult Mental Health Care,” which featured Lyn Morris, LMFT, CEO of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, and Nora Feldpausch, MD, Medical Director of Mantra Health, moderated by John MacPhee, CEO of the JED Foundation.

Despite the prevalence of mental health issues, not all college-age adults know how to manage difficult emotions, cope with stress, or seek help when they need it. In order to promote help-seeking behaviors and overall mental health, it is critical to advance mental health services for young people. Doing so requires an investment in mental health resources, education, and awareness so that young people recognize their mental health issues and know how and where to seek help. 

“This is the age group where the majority of the more severe mental illnesses start to present themselves,” said Dr. Fledpausch, “And we know from the data that identifying these disorders and treating them effectively has a huge impact on outcomes. I think we really have an opportunity to address their mindset and to train them how to think about and monitor their own well-being in a way you don’t necessarily have in younger kids or in older adults.”

Benefits of Investing in Young Adult Mental Health

Young adult mental health is a long-term investment. When mental health conditions go undiagnosed and untreated, it has a ripple effect on the college community. Investing in mental health not only contributes to happier, healthier young adults, but also fosters a more promising future for all of us. When college students graduate, they become alumni, join the workforce, and become the next generation of leaders. 

Right now, there are few mental health professionals working in young adult mental health care and among those working, many are overburdened and unable to meet the growing demand. Identifying, recruiting, and retaining mental health professionals who have experience treating this specialized population is no easy feat, Dr. Feldpausch points out. It’s even harder to find diverse providers with unique specializations who can work with students from marginalized populations who already face barriers to quality care.

Institutions can’t afford to not address mental health. According to the most recent Healthy Minds Study, 30% of students who have depression will drop out. Based on this data, if you provide 500 students mental health care, then you can potentially save 30 students from dropping out – and this can ultimately save you $1.2 million in tuition costs and $3 million in lifetime earnings. 

Institutions can also prevent crises and emergencies by implementing crisis counseling services, Morris explains. Before calling law enforcement and recruiting local hospitals, institutions should establish a crisis call or text line for immediate mental health needs. When using Didi Hirsch services, 95% of crisis calls are deescalated and this prevents an expensive and traumatic event from happening, but also protects the health of the student.

Bridging the Mental Health Care Gaps in Higher Education

Traditionally, students have only had one way of accessing mental health care on campus – by visiting their campus counseling center. While that option must be available, that’s not always conducive for students who work during the day, live off campus, have no transportation access, don’t feel comfortable with in-person visits, or don’t have direct access to diverse providers. This is why colleges and universities must look outside their campus offerings to expand their mental health care for students. 

Employing a team of five for a student body of 5,000 isn’t enough anymore. You must invest in additional resources, such as 24/7 crisis care and psychiatry via telehealth. It’s hard to find mental health professionals in any city, let alone those with experience in young adult mental health. Investing in a provider who can work in collaboration with your existing center can not only ease the burden on campus counselors, but also expand the offerings for students.

When considering a mental health provider, here’s what Dr. Feldpausch suggests asking:

What are the company protocols around standard of care?

How is provider time allocated and where are providers recruited from?

Are providers specialized in young adult mental health and do they have the up-to-date training needed to support your student population?

How does the provider handle mental health risks and how can they respond in conjunction with your university protocols?

How does the company deliver its service and what outcomes are evaluated?

Does the provider have the ability to work directly with your campus and your counseling center, so that no student goes unaddressed or untreated?

Mantra Health invests in young adult mental health by bringing providers of therapy and psychiatry to college students. By increasing access to mental health professionals and working alongside on-campus services, Mantra Health supports young adults for better mental health that can impact their well-being for a lifetime. 

Didi Hirsch, one of our dedicated partners, provides mental health, substance use disorder and suicide prevention services and has the nation’s first Suicide Prevention Center in the nation. In addition to providing 24/7 bilingual crisis support through call or text, Didi Hirsch also offers suicide prevention trainings and workshops so staff and faculty are prepared to identify and intervene when a problem arrises. 

It takes all of us to invest in the future of the world by investing in better mental health for young adults today. To learn how we can work together to invest in young adult mental health, get in touch with a member of our partnership team. You can also watch the complete GDBHT panel discussion here. 

Mantra Leads the Discussion on Young Adult Mental Health at the GDBHT Summit

Mantra Health recruits VPs from Noodle, Tempest and NOCD, the #1 telehealth provider of OCD treatment. 

New hires include Yiwen Looi as VP of Marketing, Hunter Davis as VP of Engineering, Allie Schwartz as VP of People, Alex Xu as VP of Virtual Care Operations, and Kelly Carleton was promoted to VP of Program Success.

The new leadership team joins Mantra as the company continues to expand its footprint to provide the most clinically-informed virtual mental health program to college campuses nationwide.

NEW YORK, June 9, 2022 — Mantra Health, the preeminent digital mental health clinic focused on young adults, today announced several new additions to its leadership team, adding Yiwen Looi as VP of Marketing, Hunter Davis as VP of Engineering, Allie Schwartz as VP of People, Alex Xu as VP of Virtual Care Operations, and promoting Kelly Carleton to VP of Program Success. Collectively, they bring several decades of collective experience in digital health and education technology, and will augment Mantra Health’s brand awareness and fortify its relationships with schools and mental health professionals.

This all-star leadership team joins Mantra Health during a moment of significant development. Mantra Health’s growth has skyrocketed since its debut in 2020, and its high-quality virtual counseling is now available to over 500,000 students across 52 colleges and universities ranging from Ivy League institutions to community colleges. 

As a result of college counseling centers adopting Mantra’s evidence-based, collaborative approach to support students with increased access to care, students have achieved positive clinical and academic outcomes. In fact, in a recent quarterly patient NPS survey, 81% of students stated that Mantra made it easy for them to manage their mental health, 68% of students attribute Mantra Health’s services to improved academic results, and ultimately 70% of participants credit the services to helping them stay in school. 

“It’s a great privilege to be part of an organization that is committed to not only improving the mental health of 20 million young adults attending postsecondary schools but also has a deep focus on the mental health wellbeing of its own workforce,” said Allie Schwartz, VP of People at Mantra Health. “Mantra practices what they preach, and I’m happy to be spearheading the cultivation of human connection and well-being with all employees in-person and remote.”

All of Mantra Health’s new Vice Presidents bring invaluable experience from the nation's leading digital health, digital wellness, and edtech companies. At Mantra, they will be responsible for many aspects of how higher education institutions, counselors, and students experience Mantra’s clinical excellence and white-glove patient services:

VP of Marketing, Yiwen Looi and VP of Program Success, Kelly Carleton are leading Mantra's go-to-market functions. They will be focused on driving greater awareness of Mantra Health’s mission and services, and ensuring that each of Mantra’s institutional partners receives a high quality of patient service and clinical care. Yiwen brings almost 13 years of marketing leadership experience from the edtech ecosystem. Prior to joining Mantra, Yiwen was the VP of Marketing at Noodle, the nation’s fastest-growing online education network. Kelly was promoted from within Mantra Health and has been instrumental to Mantra’s success thus far. Prior to her promotion, Kelly was Mantra’s Clinical Operations Director, running everything from care navigation to provider recruiting and university partner management. Before joining Mantra, Kelly was the Project Manager of the Behavioral Health Integration Program at Montefiore Medical Center.


As VP of Engineering, Hunter Davis will evolve and fortify Mantra’s engineering stack and scale the engineering team as the company accelerates its technology investment. Hunter’s work will ultimately facilitate collaboration with Mantra’s school partners and deliver quality mental health care to students at every stage of their care journey. Hunter brings over 18 years of engineering leadership experience. Before joining Mantra Health, Hunter was the Director of Engineering of RealSelf, the medical aesthetics industry digital marketplace.


As VP of Virtual Care Operations, Alex Xu will build and retain a nationwide network of providers specializing in young adult mental health care, while creating the best end to end patient experience with care navigation. Prior to Mantra Health, Alex was the VP of Network Operations at NOOCD, the #1 telehealth provider of OCD treatment. Before NOCD, Alex was at Lyra Health, the leading workforce mental health solutions provider for employers. Alex also had operations leadership roles at Uber and ofo, an international bike-share platform.


As VP of People, Allie Schwartz will build Mantra Health as the premier place to work in the mental health industry. She’ll also be responsible for creating connections within the company’s hybrid remote workplace as it continues to scale this year. Allie brings over 15 years of human resources leadership; most recently she was the VP of People at Tempest, the digital alcohol recovery program.

“We’re thrilled to have such a high caliber of professionals joining the Mantra team and helping to strengthen our go-to-market strategy and enhance the experience for our university partners and patients,” said Ed Gaussen, CEO and co-founder, Mantra Health. “Their combined experience and deep understanding of the latest innovations in education, technology and healthcare is essential to Mantra’s rapid expansion and to ensure Mantra’s services are available to all colleges and universities as we continue to combat the campus mental health crisis.”

In January, Mantra Health closed a Series A fundraising round. Among other goals, the capital injection was meant to enable Mantra to quadruple its headcount over the next year across all aspects of the business from product development to go-to-market and clinical operations. 

Mantra Health is a digital mental health clinic on a mission to improve access to evidence-based mental healthcare for young adults. Through augmenting high-quality clinical services with software and design, we're on a mission to improve the mental health of over 20 million university and college students through partnerships with higher education institutions and health insurance plans. As of Spring 2022, Mantra’s program has been deployed across 52 campuses with over 500,000 students including Penn State, MIT, Cornell, and Miami Dade College.

Press Release: Mantra Health Expands Leadership Team With Five New Vice Presidents

“Everybody’s competing to win. [Student-athletes] are driven to be perfect. They’re afraid to fail in the area and there is certainly a lot of external pressure to that,” said James Borchers, MD, President and CEO of the U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health. “You [now] have individuals that have not developed the skillset to be able to deal with those pressures.”

Dr. Borchers and Jeffrey J. Milroy, Dr.Ph, Director of Programs for Prevention Strategies, joined moderator Farah Gilani, LPC-S, Clinical Solutions Consultant at Mantra Health for a discussion on resilience and improving the mental wellness of student-athletes on campus, which you can watch here.

Defined as “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change,” resilience gives student-athletes the ability to bounce back from a loss, an unexpected injury, or other unforeseen obstacles. How can athletic directors, coaches, athletic trainers, and other athletic leaders teach resilience to student-athletes and help them thrive when faced with adversity?

Recognize the Unique Needs of this Generation

Unlike generations before, the Gen Z population is heavily influenced by the things going on in the world and are more likely to embrace societal change and address social issues like climate change. 

“When things happen, they do feel more burdened by it than generations [before them],” Dr. Borchers explains. “They want to work towards making the world a better place.” While this is certainly a good thing, this can add pressure and stress on student-athletes who are already overburdened with responsibilities. 

This generation wants to be included in conversations. Rather than simply advising, athletic leaders, especially coaches, should focus on bringing athletes into the process, giving them a voice and listening to what they need to be most successful. This may require a change in communication style. 

“Coaches can [practice] a lot more listening, a lot less talking,” says Dr. Milroy. Using shorter, more impactful statements rather than giving longer, impassioned speeches can be more effective, Dr. Borchers explains. By listening intently and with empathy to athletes, coaches have the opportunity to gather information, practice active listening, and better assess the mental health needs of the athletes. 

Empathy in sport can keep athletes connected and enhance athletic performance, all while reminding athletes that they’re not alone, that their experience is shared by others. You can utilize the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)’s Sport Science Institute’s empathetic response training video to get started. 

Athletes aren’t going to win every game, every match, but that won’t stop them trying. While there’s nothing wrong with the desire to win, perfection is unattainable – and student-athletes need to be reminded of this fact. 

Coaches can introduce student-athletes to mini-hardships and help student-athletes cope with hardship in practice, outside of practice, and during games or matches. Rather than forcing an athlete to do pushups or run when a mistake occurs, ask them to express their feelings. Let them know that their frustration and embarrassment is not something to be ashamed of, but simply a part of the experience.

It’s also important for athletic leaders to demonstrate resilience. When a coach loses a game, how do they respond? Athletes are young and vulnerable and they will model the behavior they witness. This is why coaches need to practice healthy mental health habits and work on their own emotional response to a loss or hardship. 

Failures are bound to happen, but they’re not personal failures, and in sport, this needs to be acknowledged. “The failure is going to be there,” Dr. Milroy explains. Student-athletes need to know that they have the support, the resources, and the community available to overcome these challenges. This can start with hiring and making sure that each member of the athletic department is prepared to create a supportive environment. 

Building resilience is “a marathon, not a sprint,” says Dr. Borchers. It won’t happen overnight. It takes time and it requires ongoing learning for coaches, athletic staff, and others involved in the athletic program.

Make Mental Health a Priority – and Build in Collaboration

“People want a great experience and they want to win,” Dr. Borchers explains, but far too often, measurements of success in sport are tied to winning and athletes in college are young 18 to 22 year olds who don’t necessarily have the skill set to handle loss.

Athletic departments are generally siloed from other departments on campus and this is a problem, as they typically handle problems in insulation, rather than working with other campus departments to solve them. If it continues this way, Dr. Borchers says sport will fail. “It will fail because this generation and the people to follow are not going to accept it.”

Athletic leaders have a unique opportunity to reimagine the way they’re working – and make concrete changes to build a better program for the future. This requires a new approach and a new way of thinking. The best athletic directors and coaches understand this and are making mental wellness a priority. 

It’s far too easy to leave mental health to the clinical experts, but we all play a role in supporting the health and well-being of college students. You can lend an ear when an athlete is having a difficult day, but you can also train yourself in identifying signs and symptoms of mental distress, so you can take action and intervene early. 

Athletic directors can take initiative to build committees or host regular meetings with cross-campus stakeholders that focus solely on student mental health. They can also foster more collaborative relationships between on-campus and off-campus resources – including the counseling center, health center, student affairs department – which will help improve the student-athlete experience on campus.

“The goal [is] to support [student-athletes] and meet their needs [so they can get] back to what they love, which is the competition,” says Dr. Milroy. To win in sport, athletes must stay mentally focused, but they can’t do that if they’re battling anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. 

Improving Mental Health Access for Student-Athletes

When a student-athlete has a mental health concern and needs support, where do they go? Is therapy or psychiatry available to them? What resources can they easily access? We need to protect college athletes' physical and mental health by equipping athletic departments, coaches, and students with the proper tools to build mental wellness.

At Mantra Health, we're dedicated to providing the resources and proper mental health care for collegiate athletes, so they can withstand everyday failures, anxieties, and other mental health challenges. 

Watch How to Redefine and Reimagine the Power of Resilience and Improve Student-Athlete Mental Well-Being here and join us for the next webinar in our student-athlete webinar series on July 11, 2022. RSVP here.

Experts from Prevention Strategies and USCAH Address the Power of Resilience Among Student-Athletes

Today’s socio-political backdrop includes aggressive legislation limiting the very mention of sexual orientation or gender identity, the banning of books in schools and libraries, and an ongoing fight for gender-affirming healthcare. Is it any wonder, then, that students in the LGBTQ+ community are experiencing a mental health crisis, and facing unique challenges compared to their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts? 

According to a 2021 survey conducted by The Trevor Project, 62% of LGBTQ+ youth reported symptoms of a major depressive disorder in the past two weeks and 42% seriously considered suicide in the past year. While in school, LGBTQ+ students are more likely than their non-LGBTQ+ peers to experience poor mental health, bullying, and harassment. This increases for transgender and nonbinary students. 

Many of these students are actively seeking help; they just can’t access it. Sixty-percent of LGBTQ youth wanted mental health care in the past year, but were not able to get it. The most common reasons: fear of discussing mental health concerns, concerns with obtaining permission from a parent or caregivers, fear of not being taken seriously, and affordability of services. 

Higher education leaders have an opportunity to support LGBTQ+ students in an informed and sensitive manner. Here are six ways to recognize and meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community:

1. Improve and highlight your campus policies.

The best way to build a more inclusive campus and learning environment is to adjust your policies. Every college and university should have anti-bullying and harassment policies that protect LGBTQ+ staff and faculty and LGBTQ+ students, especially transgender and gender nonconforming students, LGBTQ+ students of color, and those with learning, physical, and mental health disabilities who may face additional hardships.

Make sure your policies are clear, consistent, and comprehensive and your institution's vision and mission statement is inclusive of all students, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, racial or ethnic background, and socioeconomic status. An overall indicator of your institution’s commitment to LGBTQ-inclusive policy, program and practice can be found using the Campus Pride Index.

2. Expand mental health care for LGBTQ+ college students.

Ninety-four percent of LGBQT youth said that it was important for them to have access to a 24/7 crisis line. The same percentage preferred to have access to a counselor via text. Meanwhile, 78% wished for webchat access, and 77% preferred phone access. 

Your campus may have limited mental health options for LGBTQ+ students, many of whom have intersectional identities and need more specialized, tailored services. You should consider expanding your existing counseling services and working with a mental health care provider that offers more diverse and accessible therapy and psychiatry services.

3. Make resources and guides readily available to all students, staff, faculty, and the community at large.

Offer LGBTQ+ students a guide to campus life, which includes a comprehensive list of relevant student groups, counseling center information, mental health resources, and directions to LGBTQ+-friendly spaces. The Spectrum Center at The University of Michigan provides this extensive guide listing scholarship opportunities, local clinics that provide trans care, LGBTQ+-friendly faith spaces, among other valuable resources.

You should include local and national organizations or advocacy groups, such as Trans Student Educational Resources, Point Foundation, Matthew Shepard Foundation, among others, as well as reading lists (example from Brown University), a pronoun guide (example from the University of Connecticut), a glossary, and a list of on-campus groups, which may include the Genders & Sexualities Alliance or other groups for allies.

4. Align relevant campus centers, departments, and services.

There is strength in the community. To build a better campus environment for your LGBTQ+ students, be sure to align with different stakeholders across different departments. You may have a gender and sexuality department, diversity center, LGBTQ+ center, counseling services and health centers, among others. Make sure you build a bridge between all of them, fostering consistent communication and alignment. You can also build a committee of advocates in order to discuss LGBTQ+ student needs, such as a campus task force.

Leverage your collective power to support LGBTQ+ students and protect their rights to gender expression, freedom from discrimination, the right to assemble, right to access facilities that match gender identities, and safety from bullying and harassment.

5. Provide professional development and diversity training to faculty and staff.

Most counselors and administrators (58%) do not believe they receive enough training to support the needs of LGBTQ+ students. If you have the funding, you can develop your own DEI workshops and training. You can also utilize training resources from Campus Pride, The Safe Zone Project, The Trevor Project, GLAAD, and It Gets Better Project, among other organizations. Check with your local LGBTQ+ community resource center, too, as they may also offer training and workshops accessible to your campus.

6. Foster safe and affirming spaces on campus for LGBTQ+ students.

LGBTQ youth who have access to spaces that affirm their sexual orientation and gender identity report lower rates of attempting suicide. If you don’t already have these spaces on campus, create them. In addition, student affairs should align with LGBTQ+ student groups and the institution's LGBTQ+ resource center, if it exists, to create informative, interactive, and fun events and activities for LGBTQ+ students. Encourage a sense of revelry, joy, and (yes) pride in the LGBTQ+ community by marking meaningful events. Lavender Graduation, for example, is an annual event sponsored on college campuses by the Human Rights Campaign and honors LGBTQ+ graduates. 

A commitment to LGBTQ+ students is a commitment to the whole student body. According to research conducted by Learning for Justice, LGBTQ+ students thrive in environments where their identities are acknowledged and valued. In fact, all students benefit from a school setting that priorities safety, inclusion, and accessibility. 

Improve LGBTQ+ Mental Wellness with Mantra Health

Mantra Health is a clinically-informed digital mental health company on a mission to improve young adult mental health by expanding access to therapy, psychiatry, and crisis care via telehealth. We have compiled a diverse network of providers who are trained in culturally responsive care and have unique specialities in order to properly support and treat LGBTQ+ students. 

You can learn more about our services and how we work with college campuses here. 

6 Ways to Support LGBTQ+ College Students on Campus

Mental health matters every day of the year, but especially during times of crisis. At Mantra Health, we have hired a phenomenal team of creatives, experts, clinicians, leaders, and mental health advocates, all of whom hold additional roles of parent, friend, relative, child, partner, community member, and loved one. We are all humans, first and foremost, and we have basic human needs. 

When there’s a national crisis, political event, weather-related disaster, public health emergency, or personal tragedy, we should strive to give employees the grace and autonomy to respond and grieve on their own terms. This not only prevents burnout, but encourages a healthy work/life balance. 

Take a Proactive, Collaborative Approach to Mental Health

According to Mental Health America’s (MHA) Mind the Workplace 2022 Report, four out of five employees say workplace stress affects their relationships with friends, family, and coworkers – and while 47% of employees know about their company’s mental health services, only 38% feel comfortable using them. If we want our employees to strengthen their mental health, we have to give them the opportunity to do so.

Offering mental health benefits, such as flexible hours, ample paid time off, access to mental health resources, like meditation and therapy, is just one step in supporting employee health and wellbeing. It needs to be a collaborative and proactive priority. At Mantra Health, we’re focused on cultivating a company culture of compassion and understanding. 

“We take a proactive approach to employee mental health and wellness,” says Allie Schwartz, VP of People Operations at Mantra Health. “We don’t just give employees unlimited time off. We track their time taken to encourage them to utilize their PTO throughout the year. We also host training sessions for new employees on supporting their colleague’s mental health. We encourage teammates to turn off notifications after hours, block time off for focused work, and build a schedule that best suits their preferred way of working and we offer meditation and yoga classes, in addition to free Talkspace subscriptions.”

We know that mental health goes beyond mental health benefits. It’s important to create a culture of collaboration, so employees feel comfortable to ask questions, set boundaries, and adjust their days to accommodate their personal needs. 

Since joining the Mantra Health, Nicole Wheeler, M.A. NCC LPC, Mantra Health Provider, said that her family and friends have noticed that her stress levels have lowered. “If just the work environment has had this impact on me, imagine how we are impacting the clients. It all starts with leadership. I’ve had lots of job offers and I keep turning them down [because of] how happy I am.”

“I decided to work for Mantra Health because of the population we serve,” said Maribel Aheran, EdD, LMHC, Mental Health Provider, who likes the company culture and the professionalism and respect that’s offered to providers. 

Ted Wolf, Analytics Manager at Mantra Health, said, “It's the first time in my career that a professional opportunity truly aligned with something I'm passionate about as a person… I've struggled with major depression and anxiety since I was [a teenager], and college was the lowest point… I didn't know how to navigate anything or what the next steps even were, and it took me three full years after I accepted the fact that I had a mental health issue to even begin therapy because I had to figure everything out on my own. If I found therapy and the care I needed while I was in school, I can only imagine how much better my experience as a student and overall life would have been. So, [now I] get the chance to provide that for thousands of students while also furthering my own skills.”

Becky Arroyo, LMHC, Mantra Health Provider, said, “I get to focus on my work with clients and also my personal life, which in turn allows me to show up 100% for my clients.”

How Our Team Prioritizes Mental Health – and How You Can, Too

No one is immune from stress, anxiety, or mental health issues, but some of the hardest hit are clinical providers who offer unconditional care to others. We asked some of our providers how they take care of their mental health and here’s what they said:

“I make time to disconnect from ‘noise’ or stimuli such as staying away from electronics and social media while enjoying the silence.” – Maria Ximena Cortada, LCSW, Mantra Health Provider

“I keep my hygiene routines, even when I'm really tired or struggling. Sometimes, just having the routine makes me do the task without thinking. [Putting] one foot in front of the other, one brushing of the teeth or a healthy meal or quick rest at a time, puts me back on track.” – Sarah Barrett, LCSW, Mantra Health Provider

“[I focus on] spending time enjoying my family, sitting down and drinking coffee, working outside, or going for a bike ride.” – Marie-Anne Abenroth MA, LPC, LAC, NCC

“I set boundaries, I set limits, I spend alone time, I spend time with my family and friends, I give back, I limit my working hours, I go for walks, I go outside 20 minutes a day no matter what, I hug my husband, I hug my children, I hug my dogs and cats, I laugh often, I appreciate everything I have, I do not waste time on drama, I practice kindness, I talk to my friends, [and] when needed, I [reach] out for mental health support.” – Donna Marley, LCSW, Mantra Health Provider

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health care, but far too often stigma, social barriers, financial strains, limited care access, work constraints, and other factors prevent people from speaking up, taking personal breaks, and accessing mental health services. We want to make sure each teammate feels supported – and if they don’t, we should work with them individually to change this.

Protect Your Employees’ Wellbeing Year-Round

A company is only as successful as its people – and people need more than tools and resources to thrive in the workplace. To protect team mental health, it’s important to talk openly about mental health issues, acknowledge times of stress, and praise mental health best practices. 

Here at Mantra Health, we’re lucky to have a team that is not only dedicated to the company mission, but is also full of empathy and compassion. Our leadership team also knows how important self-care is and encourages employees to set boundaries around personal time, schedule doctor visits during the day, say “no” to unnecessary meeting invites, take PTO when needed, eat lunch away from the desk or office, and speak up about their mental health needs. When we foster this kind of environment, we make it easier for employees to take care of themselves during difficult times. 

To learn more about Mantra Health and how we’re building a team of providers to expand mental health access on college campuses, contact us at partner@mantrahealth.com. 

Standing Together for Mental Health: Supporting Employee Wellbeing During Times of Crisis