“As a society, people are talking about mental health more, but the workplace is like the last frontier. Although there are laws that protect us, it can still feel scary to open up at work.”

Clare M. is talking about perceptions of mental health in the workplace. It's a subject she knows a lot about, having spent the past two decades in the mental health space, most recently coming to Facebook to be the Mental Health Program Manager for Life@, Facebook's internal team that runs employee programs and benefits.

May is Mental Health Month, and we sat down with various leaders at Facebook to discuss how perceptions of mental health in the workplace have changed over time, and the actions they have taken to help eliminate stigma, improve treatment accessibility and quality of care, and build community.

“We're willing to talk about having a heart condition or having diabetes. We're even getting braver in talking about cancer or fertility issues. The brain is just as much of an essential organ in our body,” says Renee A., Director of Life@.

Renee says that one way companies like Facebook make progress in terms of employee mental healthcare is by focusing on three key strategies. Facebook's plan is designed to increase awareness on the topic of mental health and reduce stigma, improve access and quality to mental health care, and create safe, welcoming communities where those discussing mental health feel supported.

“We are trying to design our benefit programs around moments that matter in people's lives. That's really our north star,” Renee says.

Facebook's Life@ team takes pride in sharing how they designed their programs with other employers, helping redefine how the marketplace delivers this important benefit. “We are the most proud when other employers reach out for help and adopt similar designs because it means that together, as a benefits community, we are creating impact for people beyond those just at Facebook,” Renee explains.

Having the resources to address mental health is equally essential. In the United States, Facebook offers 25 free therapy sessions for employees and their dependents per year in addition to mental health coverage through employee medical plans. For employees and dependents in all international countries, Facebook provides therapy through the Employee Assistance Program.

“Other companies ask us if we see our employees using these mental health benefits. Yes, we do! And we're proud of that, because it shows the program is working and is providing preventive care,” says Renee.

Renee and Clare also helped facilitate the #OpenUp effort at Facebook. Launching the #OpenUp narrative, where employees shared their own mental health stories, created a ripple effect to more people being open and discussing their own struggles. “It's about normalizing it more than anything else,” Clare says. “It reinforces that you aren't alone in your experience.“

While the Life@ team was rolling out this initiative, two Facebook content strategists were bonding over a shared experience. In the spring of 2016, both Katy S. and Jennifer Y. were new to Facebook's content strategy team. Katy, now a content strategy manager for Oculus, remembers those first few months not being as easy as she had expected. “At Facebook, there's a steep learning curve, and it can be a little disorienting. Sometimes, you're not okay, and that's fine,” she says.

Built on the desire to feel heard and connect with others, Katy and Jennifer created Mental Health@, an employee-lead space for people to share their own stories about mental health on Workplace, Facebook's internal communication hub.

Initially, they thought Mental Health@ would be a small group where people shared articles and resources. It quickly grew into something much more. “We are blown away by the vulnerability and strength and courage in that group every single day,” says Katy of Mental Health@, which now numbers well into the thousands. “It's surprising and humbling and a real honor that people trust each other and treat each other so well.”

Katy also acknowledges the work that Life@ puts in to make mental health care accessible to those who work at Facebook. “We have a ton of benefits that support mental health,” she says.

Still, the need for a supportive community is strong. “Most of the time,” Katy says, “people just want to know that they're being heard. It's the most basic component of mental well-being: giving it a name, having someone reflect it back to you, and feeling heard in this moment.”