“You can’t talk about physical health without talking about mental health. You can't talk about mental health without talking about physical health,” said Gabe Diop, co-founder of Rula. “There’s no way that you can deal with humans and not deal with mental health.”

Mental health stands out as both an urgent challenge and significant opportunity for corporate growth investment to allow for more successful organizations. During a thought leadership spotlight at From Day One’s Boston benefits conference, Diop shared that mental health can no longer be treated as separate from physical health, nor can companies afford to address it with half-measures.

Diop brings a personal perspective to his advocacy work. Being impacted by substance use disorder within his family, he was exposed to a string of mental health events which shaped his understanding of how mental health affects every aspect of life. With the knowledge of those experiences, his work focuses on creating accessibility to mental health care. 

While mental health awareness has increased since the pandemic, Diop points to troubling statistics that suggest a crisis in need of immediate attention. According to data he shared, 9% of high school students have attempted suicide, with 20% having seriously considered it. Black children are twice as likely to die by suicide, and only 15% of mothers experiencing perinatal depression receive care, with rates even lower among mothers of color.

Diop highlights how personal challenges in all aspects of life inevitably impact workplace performance. “Imagine if employees are going through tough times,” Diop said. “How can that employee possibly be their best self at work? It’s impossible.”

The disconnect between need and access remains staggering. Primary care physicians report that roughly one third of their patients have a behavioral health component to their care needs, yet most doctors have minimal training in mental health and few reliable referral options.

“You get about 30 minutes of training when you’re in med school for mental health,” Diop said. “If the average doctor doesn’t even know what to do, what do you think the average employee or the average person is thinking?”

Diop advocates for a “crawl, walk, run” approach that starts with simple interventions. This starts with basic screening during employee physicals, access to therapists through existing health plans, and better awareness of available resources that make an immediate difference.

Mental healthcare should be woven into existing healthcare touchpoints that employees already use, from primary care visits to maternity care to chronic disease management, says Diop. For instance, some health platforms for diabetes management have started to incorporate depression screening, yet often lack a clear pathway to care for patients who do screen positive. Accessible platforms like Rula have made it possible to connect a mental health professional, that would have been nearly impossible to find just a few years ago, to a patient’s specific needs. 

Employers are starting to recognize the business value in addressing mental health more systematically. From reducing healthcare costs to improving productivity, the case goes beyond compassion to clear financial outcomes.But perhaps the most persuasive argument Diop offers is the simplest: mental health affects everyone.

As employers look to enhance their benefits packages, addressing mental health doesn’t require reinventing the wheel. Rula’s integration with major health plans already covers over 140 million lives, making it immediately accessible to most workforces, he says. “We serve ages five and above for therapy. We serve ages 13 and above for med management, in all 50 states,” he said. “But if people don't know about it, it doesn’t matter.”

Editor's note: From Day One thanks our partner,  Rula, for sponsoring this thought leaderships spotlight. 

Chris O’Keeffe is a freelance writer with experience across industries. As the founder and creative director of OK Creative: The Language Agency, he has led strategy and storytelling for organizations like MIT, Amazon, and Cirque du Soleil, bringing their stories to life through established and emerging media.

(Photos by Rick Friedman for From Day One)