The stakes have never been higher. With stress, burnout, and mental health issues at all-time highs, mental health is no longer a secondary concern, in today’s world—it's a top priority.
In fact, According to the Center for Prevention and Health Services, untreated mental health concerns cost U.S. employers an estimated $105 billion annually. Employees not dealing with mental health conditions can cost your business a whole lot, leaving you to worry about productivity, absenteeism, and turnover. But beyond the financial toll, there is a growing recognition that supporting employee well-being is fundamental to creating a thriving, engaged, and productive workforce.
To truly make a difference, employers must look beyond traditional mental health support systems (which don’t seem to be working anymore) and embrace innovative solutions like Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAT), or Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB).
By integrating these options into their wellness strategies, companies can help employees who struggle with treatment-resistant conditions and support overall workplace health in a very meaningful way.
Over the past decade, awareness around mental health has grown significantly.
More employees are open about their struggles, but traditional solutions like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) often fall short. According to a 2024 NAMI Workplace Mental Health Poll, 86% of employees say their mental health affects their productivity yet 7 in 10 senior-level employees say they have not received workplace training about how to talk to their team about mental health.
This gap underscores the need for innovation. In a world where 71% of workers experience symptoms of burnout, new and effective mental health treatments are now more necessary than ever.
Employers who want to be at the forefront of employee wellness must offer solutions that reflect the complexity of mental health issues in today’s fast-paced work environment.
Supporting mental health in the workplace means not only recognizing the issue but also offering tangible solutions. Here’s how employers can help:
KAT is emerging as one of the most promising alternatives for those with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorders. Traditional antidepressants often take weeks or months to work, but ketamine, in controlled doses, can bring relief within hours. When combined with therapy, KAT has been shown to foster long-term improvements by resetting neural pathways in the brain.
KAT offers:
SGB is a lesser-known treatment that is gaining traction for its effectiveness in treating PTSD. Originally used to treat chronic pain, SGB works by calming the body’s overactive stress response, which can bring almost immediate relief to individuals suffering from PTSD-related anxiety and hypervigilance.
SGB offers:
In addition to KAT and SGB, employers should also consider other innovative therapies such as neurofeedback, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and psychedelic-assisted therapies (such as MDMA and psilocybin). These treatments, while still in varying stages of research and acceptance, show promise for treating complex mental health conditions.
For employers, the benefits of investing in mental health go far beyond productivity.
Supporting mental health innovation builds a more resilient, loyal, and engaged workforce. Employees who feel their mental health is taken seriously are more likely to stay with the company, be engaged in their work, and contribute to a positive workplace culture.
Moreover, innovative mental health treatments offer hope for those struggling with conditions that have not responded to traditional care. By offering access to treatments like KAT and SGB, employers can reduce the long-term costs of absenteeism, presenteeism, and turnover. In fact, research from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that every dollar invested in mental health yields a $4 return in improved health and productivity.
Employers have a unique opportunity to lead the way in supporting innovative mental health treatments. By investing in these emerging therapies, companies can create a workplace where mental health is prioritized, leading to happier, healthier, and more productive employees.
At Enthea, we’re committed to helping companies integrate these groundbreaking treatments into their employee wellness programs. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help your organization support innovative mental health solutions, visit our website today.
