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Mental health isn’t just a trending topic; it’s an issue that affects everyone including in the workplace.
Brad Barber, CEO of H&E Rentals, one of the largest construction equipment rental companies in the nation, joined Business Report‘s “Strictly Business” webcast on Wednesday to discuss how his company has addressed mental health in the workplace. He shared what inspired him to spearhead conversations about mental health at his company and tips on how other business executives can encourage their employees to seek help if they are having a mental health crisis.
The company recently partnered with some of the nation’s leading mental health advocates and experts to create a Mental Health and Hope training module for its own employees as well for other equipment industry companies.
Mental Illness, Health Action Alliance, American Psychiatric Association Foundation, and others.
In case you missed it, here are some of the main takeaways from the conversation:
How H&E addresses mental health and substance abuse in the workplace: Online training, fentanyl awareness marketing campaigns, a website dedicated to mental health resources and an annual leadership conference that motivates leaders in the company to get educated about mental health and substance abuse.
Advice for other executives: Don’t wait for something to happen before discussing mental health with your team. More than one in five adults experience mental illness. Look your employees in the eye, ask how they are doing and genuinely listen as they respond. If something seems off, schedule time to speak with them further.
Goals Barber hopes to achieve with his mental health initiatives: By the end of 2024, the initial goal was to inform more than 20,000 people through a 12 to 15 minute training. H&E is preparing to exceed that and will continue educating people and sharing free resources.
Watch a replay of the episode here. Get more insights and tips in Business Report’s Executive Mental Health section here.
