It is well-documented that the COVID-19 pandemic deepened a mental health crisis, particularly among young people who are early in their careers. Young people entering the workforce have faced many pandemic-related obstacles. These include the shutdown of colleges and universities, the abrupt shift to remote work, and the loss of income or employment opportunities. Nearly half of the 18–29-year-olds surveyed in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 Household Pulse survey reported symptoms of anxiety and depression – which remained consistent whether or not they were employed. In 2023, 50% of adults ages 18-24 reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression, with rates even higher among Black and Hispanic young adults. Young people with disabilities have been particularly affected.

As this generation enters the workforce and advances in their career, employers play a vital role in supporting their mental health and well-being. Supporting these workers will allow companies to attract top candidates, prevent the loss of talented workers, and increase productivity and performance. In this EARN webinar, guests will explore some of the complexities young workers face and discuss steps employers can take to support their well-being.

In this webinar, you will also learn more about:
– Benefits of creating a supportive and mental health-friendly workplace for Gen Z workers from all communities
– Tactics for positioning your workforce as “mentally healthy workplaces” to recruit young talent from underrepresented groups
– Policy and practice strategies to help your organization improve and support the mental well-being of young workers

ASL and real-time captioning will be provided.

SPEAKERS:

• Adith Thummalapalli, Gen Z Engineer, Mental Health and Disability Advocate, City of Salisbury, Maryland
• Anabel Cloutier-Perez, Clinical Manager, Behavioral Health Unit, The Hartford
• Meg Delp, Director, Workplace Mental Health, Office of Innovation, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)