Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health 2024 Outcomes
This year, Mental Health America (MHA) celebrates the 5th anniversary of its Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, the first national certification recognizing U.S. employers committed to supporting a mentally healthy workforce. Since 2019, MHA has received over 500 applications from employers, representing a combined workforce of 4.3 million employees.
Sourced from all 2024 applications, the Workplace Mental Health 2024 Report: Trends and Best Practices of Top Employers provides benchmarking and identifies emerging trends that can help support all employers' workplace wellness efforts.
2024 Bell Seal Certification Highlights
In 2024, 271 eligible employers completed a 54-criteria application, evaluating internal policies and practices impacting workers' well-being, including culture, benefits, compliance, and wellness programs.
Here are this year’s highlights:
- Only two in five employers are eligible for Bell Seal certification. Of the 949 employers that completed the pre-survey, 40% qualified for the certification.
- Bell Seal recipients demonstrated a consistent commitment to supporting workers’ well-being, with an average score of 87% in 2023 and 2024.
- Recipients scored the highest in the culture and wellness sections, 94% and 95%, respectively. Recipients also scored an average of 77% in the benefits section and 88% in the compliance section, indicating potential areas for improvement.
- Bronze recipients demonstrated the most improvement, with the highest score increases from 36% to 43% in benefits and 69% to 72% in compliance, compared to 2023 scores.
- Organizational leaders and peers are openly sharing their lived experiences. Seventy-four percent of recipients have leaders who openly shared their lived experiences with a mental health or substance use condition, an increase from 71% in 2023.
- Worker-led resource groups serve as safe, connected spaces to relate with other peers and receive support. Ninety-three percent of recipients encouraged the development of worker-led resource groups, a 1% increase from 2023.
- Employers are ensuring equitable access to mental health care beyond the traditional means of providing support. Sixty-five percent of recipients verified parity between the physical and mental health services offered in their health plans, an increase from 63% in 2023.
- Employers are increasing support for workers in recovery from mental health or substance use conditions. Ninety-four percent of recipients have a return-to-work procedure that provides accommodations, alternative positions, or career transition services for workers who return from leave, an increase from 93% in 2023.
- Employers are improving policies to support workers and their families. Forty-two percent of recipients offered paid family leave for at least 12 weeks, an increase from 39% in 2023.
Recipients by the Numbers
The 2024 Bell Seal recipients represent over 19 industries – from health care and the public sector to financial services and manufacturing – and organizational sizes, from three to more than 1.5 million workers, in 39 states. Of the 271 applicants, 50% achieved Platinum recognition, followed by 32% at Gold. To qualify, Platinum recipients must meet a score of 90%, and Gold recipients must meet a score of 80%. Of the 949 employers that completed the Bell Seal pre-survey, 40% met the requirements for certification.
