Meet the Company Making Mental Health Easier for Employers

According to a 2017 study from the American Psychological Association, work is the third-most common source of stress in the United States (only two percentage points behind the future of our nation). And with that one Buzzfeed article still making the rounds and having recently become a book, it's clear that the office (virtual or physical) is the birthplace of much of Americans' stress right now. So if the stress starts in the workplace, could mental healthcare and coaching start in the workplace, too? That's what Boon Health is hoping. Founded by Alex Simmons and Chris Henrichs, Boon Health offers a holistic, flexible, and approachable system for mental healthcare in the workplace. You know how frustrating it is to try and find a new dentist—let alone a mental health professional you vibe with—through your insurance website? Think of Boon Health as the MUCH more user-friendly version of that. The seed for Boon Health became when Alex found himself exhausted by an always-on career in investment banking and private equity. He realized that most mental healthcare offered by employers was only reactive, meant to treat a crisis. But Alex didn't necessarily feel "in crisis" most days and didn't want to be labeled someone with mental health issues—so he found himself ignoring any resources offered by his company. Now, as Alex and Chris tell us in this interview, Boon Health aims to lay the groundwork to prevent crises in the first place by through their blend of mental health seminars, personalized coaching, and group wellness events. And one of the things that makes Boon Health so unique is that they also offer coaching and professional development. You'll hear Alex and Chris talk about how during the pandemic, they've seen that employees still want professional development and growth; Boon Health offers that with their coaching services. Resources: Boon Health's website How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Petersen Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Petersen