May is Mental Health Awareness Month – Let’s help #BreakTheStigma

By Dan Meyers, Chief Human Resource Officer, Acronis

May 2023 is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States, a month where we as a nation recognize the struggles many of us and our loved ones face every day.  The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that more than one in five adults in the United States live with a mental illness, which consists of behavioral, mental and emotional disorders.

As a global company, we want to take this moment to bring this cause to the attention of people of all countries, as these common yet misunderstood afflictions are by no means exclusive to the U.S.  There’s a stigma commonly associated with mental illness and attending mental health counseling that we as a society need to erase, instead encouraging our loved ones to seek treatment and even taking time every now and then to assess our own mental health.

How does Acronis support its employees’ mental health?

Acronis believes greatly in maintaining the goodwill and emotional health of our employees. A 2021 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association reported that nearly three in five employees admitted to experiencing negative impacts from work-related stress in the past month and that 87% of employees believe actions from their employers can benefit their mental health. Previous afflictions such as COVID-19 can also cause lingering mental health issues, with long COVID being frequently cited as a contributing factor to declining mental health.

At Acronis, we take mental health very seriously and take several precautions to ensure our team has the resources needed to receive the very best care and support possible. These initiatives include our Acronis Days — normal work week days when all our employees have the same day off to unwind and recharge — and access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); a global resource available in 27 languages that offers support to our employees and their family members dealing with stress and life related issues.

Let’s work together to #BreakTheStigma frequently associated with mental health issues. Resources including Live For Tomorrow, a New Zealand-based nonprofit, offer support resources in many countries around the world to those in need and experiencing mental distress. If you or a loved one needs help, don’t be afraid to reach out to these resources and receive the support you or they deserve.