Supporting employee mental health means more than just offering benefits—it means delivering solutions that feel personal, relevant, and accessible. Here's why.

According to the World Health Organization, depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion each year in lost productivity. And that number is likely conservative, considering the widespread underreporting of mental health issues across different regions and cultures.

In response, several global initiatives have emerged to address the growing mental health crisis in the workplace. The MindForward Alliance, for example, brings together leading businesses and experts committed to making mental wellbeing a strategic priority. Meanwhile, WHO has released comprehensive guidelines on mental health at work, outlining practical steps organizations can take to create safer, more supportive environments.

But for companies with a global workforce, it’s not enough to simply implement a one-size-fits-all solution. Truly effective mental health programs must be culturally aware and multilingual, so every employee, no matter where they are, can feel seen, supported, and empowered to seek help.

Cultural differences impact mental health care

Many workplace mental health programs are built around Western models of care, which often emphasize individual therapy, self-disclosure, and clinical language. While effective in some contexts, these approaches don’t always resonate globally. 

Cultural stigma around mental health can take many forms. In some communities, mental health challenges may be seen as a personal weakness or a spiritual failing. They can even be a source of shame for the entire family. 

You may try to address these barriers, but if your wellbeing programs are only available in English, some of your workforce will be left out. Even when employees speak or understand English, it may not be the language they’re most comfortable using, especially when it comes to personal, emotional topics. For mental health support to truly resonate, it needs to speak the same language as the people it's meant to help.

Without adapting to these cultural differences, programs risk low engagement and missed opportunities to truly support employees around the world.

How physical distance gets in the way of engagement

In addition to cultural barriers, there are physical barriers that prevent global teams from engaging with wellbeing programs. For instance, if you offer live training or time-sensitive programs, some employees may be left out because of their time zone. A 2 PM yoga class in New York starts at dinnertime in Lagos. Employees who want to participate simply may not be able to rearrange their schedules to do so. 

We also know that working in teams can motivate employees to engage with wellbeing programs. Peer encouragement and shared goals go a long way. But for those located far from headquarters, participation can feel out of reach. 

Let’s say your corporate office is in Las Vegas. Employees there might be more likely to join a group challenge because they have local champions rallying support and hanging flyers in the office. But what about your team members in London, Manila, or Mumbai? Without localized promotion or leadership, they may never hear about the opportunity or feel like it wasn’t meant for them. To truly engage a global workforce, wellbeing programs need to be inclusive, not just in content, but in reach.

What inclusive global support looks like 

To overcome cultural and physical barriers of your global workforce, your mental wellbeing programs should be truly inclusive. Here’s what that looks like:

Multilingual resources

Offer support materials, apps, and counseling services in the languages your employees are most comfortable with. 

Flexible access

Make sure programs are accessible across time zones and devices. That could mean on-demand webinars, self-paced modules, or virtual group sessions that don’t require being in a specific location or time slot to participate.

Privacy considerations

In some cultures, mental health is still deeply stigmatized. Programs should prioritize confidentiality and give employees safe, private ways to access help without fear of judgment or exposure, whether they're in a crowded office or working from home.

How Grokker helps you improve wellbeing, no matter where your employees are located

Grokker offers expert-led video content that doesn’t let language barriers and cultural differences get in the way. Our programs are now available in 21 languages, delivering a truly inclusive, engaging, and scalable well-being experience for your entire workforce. 

You don’t have to work with multiple vendors to reach your employees in different regions. Our scalable platform allows you to overcome cultural and physical barriers to make wellbeing accessible for all. 

To learn more about how Grokker helps employers scale their benefits to a global population, watch our webinar, Worldwide Employee Engagement Isn’t Optional—It’s Scalable.