This lengthy article from McKinsey & Company covers how to address the stigmas (they say there are three of them) against mental health in the workplace.
Buried down in the article is this point:
Encourage leaders to share their experiences with behavioral-health challenges. This often-undertapped channel (only 24 percent of employers reported using their C-suites to communicate about mental health) can have a powerful impact across a company.
A related nugget from an employee in the study:
At my employer, there is a stigma associated with seeking out help and speaking about mental illness. Maybe that’s because many workplace practices here are the reason many people feel anxious, stressed, and depressed.
This is a reminder that the holidays are a stressful time, and that you have colleagues who are struggling. Now is a good time to open up about how you have used counseling, therapy, etc. and encourage those around you to do the same.
In case you need a business case for this:
Once of my clients has made a point to rehire someone in recovery. That someone is one of the most successful salespeople in the company now. The same client also encouraged a key manager to take time off and seek therapy.
Don’t you think this client’s people feel safe?
My guess is that this client is my most financially successful client, period.
The client’s people feel safe–safe enough to perform.