Mental health has become a more visible topic in the workplace, especially during May, and that visibility matters. Highlighting mental health helps normalize the conversation and reminds people that support exists. From a human resources (HR) perspective, awareness alone is only the starting point. What truly makes a difference is how supported people feel in their everyday work environment through flexibility, expectations and the culture they experience each day.
While we, at Weinstein Spira, intentionally focus on mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month, our goal goes far beyond a single month. Our firm aims to create a culture where employees feel supported year‑round, not just through conversations, but through consistent actions that allow space for rest, connection and balance as part of everyday work life. In this blog, I walk through the ways those values show up in practice, from wellness initiatives and community-building to how our firm approaches time, flexibility and expectations.
Culture Is Built Through Intentional Initiatives
In HR, we see firsthand that culture is shaped by what organizations choose to prioritize. Supporting mental health is not about offering one solution that works for everyone. It is about creating a variety of opportunities that support well-being in different ways, whether that looks like rest, connection, movement or simply time away.
Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month, we created Wellness Wednesdays as a way to build mental health moments into the workweek. Each Wednesday during May we feature a different initiative designed to feel accessible, supportive and realistic within a busy professional environment, especially within the accounting industry.
Some weeks, that support looks like providing in office massage chairs to help employees release physical tension during the workday. Other times, it looks like offering in-house acai bowls to promote nourishment and encourage healthier habits during busy periods. Each initiative is different, but the goal is the same: creating space for employees to reset without pressure.
Supporting Connection and Community
Mental health support is not only about rest and stress management. Connection and community play an equally important role in overall well-being. As part of our wellness efforts, we also look for opportunities to bring employees together in ways that feel natural and enjoyable.
One example is our annual spring employee event, which allows employees to step away from work, connect socially and build relationships outside of day-to-day responsibilities. These moments foster a sense of belonging and help strengthen workplace culture in a way that extends well beyond the event itself.
For our remote employees, inclusion is just as important. That is why we also created a mindfulness bingo activity that allows team members to participate from anywhere. This gives everyone the opportunity to engage in wellness practices in a way that works for them, regardless of location or schedule.
Creating Space Without Pressure
In addition to these initiatives during Mental Health Awareness Month, we offer a weekly mindful meditation session every Friday throughout the year. The session is 15 minutes long and completely optional, with no cameras and no microphones required.
From an HR perspective, how wellness initiatives are structured matters just as much as the initiative itself. Keeping these sessions brief, private and choice-based removes the pressure that often prevents people from participating. Employees can simply join, take a few quiet minutes to reset and return to their day feeling refreshed.
Providing this kind of space reinforces an important message: mental health support does not require explanation or justification. Sometimes, pausing is enough.
Encouraging Rest Through Time Off
Time away from work is a critical part of supporting mental health and it requires more than just having a policy in place. Actively encouraging rest helps create a culture where taking time off feels supported, not discouraged.
Employees are offered 20 days of paid time off beginning January 1st, along with 15 firm holidays throughout the year. In addition to providing this time, we consistently reinforce the importance of actually using it. Time off is not viewed as a reward; it is an expectation and an essential part of sustaining well-being and performance.
Looking Beyond Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month helps bring visibility to these conversations, but true support in our firm continues long after May ends. A strong culture is built through consistent actions that show employees they are valued as people, not just for the work they produce.
Supporting mental health means being intentional, inclusive and consistent. Sometimes it looks like a wellness event or a team gathering. Other times, it looks like quiet time, flexibility or encouragement to step away.
And sometimes, it starts with 15 quiet minutes on a Friday.
