How to Respond When an Employee Shares a Mental Health Challenge

What should you do if your employee comes to you with a mental health challenge? While you will have to have a conversation that may feel intimate and discomfiting, it’s also not your job to be the office therapist, and you don’t need to have all the solutions when a team member is struggling. First, make sure you’ve prepared for such conversations in advance, including knowing where to point people for resources within your company. Second, set boundaries to ensure people can get help without depleting you or the team. Finally, remember that the most important thing you can do is show up and make the conversation about them — not you.