Employers today face significant challenges due to employee burnout as well as mental and emotional fatigue. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and stress can greatly impact an employee’s overall well-being and performance.
Employers who offer mental health counseling and support alongside health insurance coverage see positive effects, including improved employee well-being, reduced absenteeism, better retention rates, increased performance, and a healthy and positive work culture.
Hamilton County Schools (HCS) places a high priority on ensuring every employee feels valued and supported. This focus underscores the importance of health and well-being across the district. Recognizing that its people are its greatest asset, HCS invests in employee health through a comprehensive range of competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and programs promoting work-life balance.
Alongside excellent health insurance, the district provides access to three free health clinics, two pharmacies with free generic prescriptions, 24/7 Virtual Health via TextCare, free mental health sessions and free health coaching.
Founded in 2013 by Dr. Keith Helton, One to One Health operates the three health clinics for HCS as part of its independent, physician-led workforce health care services. One to One Health offers a continuum of care, including primary, acute, urgent, occupational, mental health, health coaching and chronic condition management.
Their health care model prioritizes putting others first, treating patients like family, and removing healthcare barriers. As experts in the field, One to One enriches members’ lives by delivering high-quality health care on their terms. They have become strong partners with HCS to ensure quality care for employees.
Through their partnership with One to One Health, HCS offers free mental health care and counseling services provided by mental health nurse practitioners. This resource is available to all employees, including part-time staff, who need support.
Additionally, HCS offers tiered support for employees and families in health crises. Offering counseling not only assists employees in times of need but also demonstrates that the district values their mental health and well-being.
Beyond counseling, HCS offers a comprehensive Whole Teacher=Well Teacher (WTWT) program available to all employees. In collaboration with the mindfulness consulting organization Mind Matters, HCS hosts bi-weekly and quarterly workshops both in-person and online, along with asynchronous support modules.
These sessions aim to help employees develop strategies for resilience, awareness, adaptation, self-regulation and self-compassion — empowering them to thrive in their roles. HCS employee participants in the programs have reported a 97.3% satisfaction rate, the HCS first-year teacher retention rate is over 91%, and the HCS overall employee retention rate is 88%.
Sessions with counselors are HIPAA-protected and free to all employees. The education sector, like many others, has faced unique challenges since the pandemic, and mental health issues can impede employees’ ability to focus and perform effectively.
Counseling provides employees with tools to manage stress and mental challenges. Throughout the year, additional WTWT strategies such as mindfulness, meditation and boundary setting help employees cope with daily challenges positively. This approach fosters a workplace culture of openness about mental health and reduces the stigma surrounding it.
For HCS employees to effectively serve students, they must first take care of themselves and set a positive example for the students. By investing in mental health resources and providing professional development support, HCS aims to enhance employee engagement, loyalty and overall employee and organizational health.
To find out more, visit Hamilton County Schools, Mind Matters and One to One Health.
Penny Murray is the executive director of human capital and finance solutions for Hamilton County Schools.