Prioritizing Mental Health in Our Workplaces

Dear Chapter Members and Friends,

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a powerful reminder that our well-being is a foundation for everything we do, both personally and professionally. We must have good well-being to serve as good stewards to those we work with and support.

As HR professionals, we often serve as the first line of support for employees navigating stress, burnout, or more serious mental health challenges both in and outside of the workplace. Yet we also carry these same pressures ourselves. Everybody's got something! It’s critical that we not only advocate for mental health at work, but also lead by example—by setting boundaries, normalizing conversations, and building cultures of care.

Let’s use this month to recommit to:
-Listening without judgment.
-Promoting accessible mental health resources.
-Encouraging time for rest and recovery.
-Checking in—not just on performance, but on people.

Together, we have the ability to change not just policies, but mindsets. Thank you for the work you do each day to make mental health a priority in your workplaces.

With appreciation,

John Oliver, MBA, SHRM-CP
President, Mid-South SHRM