Encourages Palm Beach County organizations to promote mental health during June’s National Employee Wellness Month and all year long.
June 10, 2024 – Mental Health America of the Palm Beaches (MHAPB) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the 2024 Gold Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health by Mental Health America (MHA). The Bell Seal is a first-of-its-kind workplace mental health certification recognizing employers striving to create mentally healthy workplaces for their employees. During June’s National Employee Wellness Month, MHAPB, an MHA affiliate, is encouraging all Palm Beach County organizations to embrace policies and practices that support the mental health needs of employees and to apply for the 2025 Bell Seal.
The Bell Seal recognizes employer advances in workplace mental health by awarding Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum recognition levels. Only 1 in 4 employers meet the standards for Bell Seal certification. MHAPB, underwent a rigorous evaluation of its policies and practices in four areas: workplace culture, benefits, compliance, and wellness programs. Across the State of Florida, 37 organizations have received the Bell Seal. Ten are in Palm Beach County, ranging from large corporations such as ADT, the Gehring Group, and Bentek, to the public sector, including the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, the City of Lake Worth Beach, the City of West Palm Beach, the Village of Wellington, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, and the Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Office.
MHA has spent decades researching mental health in the workplace. They introduced the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health in 2019 to recognize companies and organizations that understand the value of addressing mental health at work and implement policies and practices that support employee well-being.
“Life pressures come in many forms – affordable housing, safe neighborhoods, food budgets, illness, divorce, grief, caregiving, child behavior, childcare – we’re all familiar with these pressures and the impact they have on how we show up at work,” said Andy McAusland, MHAPB CEO. “The Bell Seal tool explores whether an organization has mechanisms to relieve stress with flexible work policies. For example, can heavier responsibilities be temporarily lessened? Is working from home an option? Is substance or mental health crisis treatment part of your Family and Medical Leave Act policy? Can schedules be juggled creatively to accommodate caregiving responsibilities? Research shows clear evidence that prioritizing employee health and wellness directly impacts the health of a business.”
McAusland encourages all Palm Beach County organizations to visit Mental Health America’s Workplace Wellness Resource Center at mhanational.org/workplace for guidance on creating a supportive workplace culture and where they can find information for applying for the Bell Seal in the 2025 cycle.
“I encourage anyone in a leadership capacity to consider applying for the Bell Seal certification in the 2025 cycle,” McAusland said. “It is uplifting to see so many organizations based in Palm Beach County that have been awarded the Bell Seal. We are one of the best-represented counties nationally. Hopefully, we continue in this direction and will soon be recognized by the MHA national office as THE model community for supporting mental health in the workplace.”
McAusland is available to speak to organizations about enhancing mental health in the workplace. Contact him at amcausland@mhapbc.org.
About Mental Health America of the Palm Beaches
Mental Health America of the Palm Beaches’ mission is to create a supportive community where all people can flourish. We have created places for people to find belonging and purpose. Where they are defined by their talents and skills, not by a mental health diagnosis. And where everyone gets encouragement and support to grow and build a fulfilling life. We are a proud Palm Beach County affiliate of Mental Health America, the nation’s leading national nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being, and illness prevention.
