Skip to main content
  • English
American Heart Association Go Red for Women
American Heart Association Go Red For Women
  • Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms in Women
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
  • Donate
  • Donate
  • site search Search
    Search
  • Heart Disease in Women
  • Know Your Risk
  • Healthy Living
  • Stages of Life
  • Get Involved
  • About Us
  • In Your Community
  • Warning Signs
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
    • English
    • Español
  1. Home
  2. Healthy Living
  3. Healthy Lifestyle
  4. Mental Health and Well-being
  5. Time is Right to Focus on Mental Health

Time is Right to Focus on Mental Health

Helping workers thrive during uncertain times

Doctor leaning against wall

New, easy-to-remember 3-digit phone number — 988 — is now live.

There’s no doubt about it. COVID-19 has created lingering problems in every area of life, including work life. U.S. workers, dealing with mental health challenges, are among the most stressed in the world. And unhealthy coping techniques can increase the risk for chronic conditions.

Since pandemic-induced workplace stress isn’t going away any time soon, we urge you to prioritize your well-being, recognize the signs of serious problems and seek help when needed.

Why mental health matters

In multiple studies, Americans have reported high levels of stress, fatigue, substance abuse and sleep problems since the pandemic began. Daily tasks and decision-making have been increasingly difficult, especially for younger adults and parents.

Many workers have faced uncertainty about the future, health fears and financial distress as a result of COVID-19. They’ve also dealt with:

  • Personal struggles such as coping with the loneliness of social isolation or the grief of losing loved ones. Navigating life-altering experiences is always hard but can be especially difficult during a global pandemic and may lead to excessive worry.
  • Professional challenges that include increased workload, shifting workplace protocols and reduced staffing.
  • Family-related demands like helping elder family members or caring for children during school absences have also increased stress, especially among working women.

Although some stress can be tolerated, chronic stress can have emotional and physical consequences. It can lead to depression, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Caring for at-risk groups

The pandemic added to health care disparities faced by several minority groups. Members of these communities are particularly at risk for mental health disorders, which are sometimes dismissed or ignored. For example, in Black and Hispanic communities, discussing stress may be perceived as a weakness, inconsistent with a strong work ethic. As a result, these workers may believe they lack the privilege of downtime or disposable income to decompress.

Finding solutions

Research shows that chronic stressors such as long work hours, financial difficulties and work-life conflict may be as unhealthy as secondhand smoke. Open communication in the workplace is essential to identifying solutions for these stressors and other pandemic-related problems.

Being aware of the common symptoms of stress is also important. These include having trouble concentrating, lacking motivation and feeling uncertain, nervous, sad, anxious or irritable. For those with existing mental health conditions, experts recommend continuing treatment and monitoring any new or worsening symptoms.

Help is available

A good first step during stressful times is to incorporate science-backed healthy habits. Some of these include exercising, meditating and practicing gratitude and positive self-talk.

When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, reach out for help. You can:

  • Contact a health care professional.
  • Use your company’s mental health resources.
  • Call 988. It’s an easy-to-remember number that directly connects you to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK). This nationwide service connects those in crisis with suicide prevention and mental health counselors.

Last Reviewed: Apr 12, 2022

X formerly known as Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email Print

Healthy Lifestyle

Healthy Lifestyle
  • Be Well Together
  • Habits
    • Change Is a Mindset
    • Easy Does It
    • Fit Bits
    • Get Ready, Get Set...
    • Habit Coach: Healthy Habit Video Series
    • Keep Up the Good Work
    • Nibbling at Healthy Eating
    • Prepare to Succeed
    • Setbacks and Recovery: That's OK
    • What’s Your Endgame?
  • Life's Essential 8
    • How to Be More Active Fact Sheet
    • How to Control Cholesterol Fact Sheet
    • How to Eat Better Fact Sheet
    • How to Get Healthy Sleep Fact Sheet
    • How to Manage Blood Pressure Fact Sheet
    • How to Manage Blood Sugar Fact Sheet
    • How to Keep a Healthy Weight Fact Sheet
    • How to Quit Tobacco Fact Sheet
    • Life's Essential 8 Fact Sheet
  • Staying Safe in the Water Infographic
  • Mental Health and Well-being
    • 5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Well-Being at Work
    • 5 Simple Heart-Healthy Energy Boosters
    • 6 Steps for the Whole Family to be Healthy
    • A Season of Well Being Infographic
    • Are You Feeling Lonely?
    • Be Science Savvy to Avoid Falling for Health and Fad Diets
    • Can Your Pet Help You Be Healthier?
    • Exercise Mind and Body with Yoga and Mindful Movement
    • Food and Mood
    • Forget FOMO Choose JOMO
    • Gratitude is Good Medicine Infographic
    • Healthy Travel
    • How Does Your Mental Health Affect the Heart?
    • How to Strengthen Willpower Infographic
    • How To Boost Your Willpower To Help Make Healthy Choices Easy
    • How to Break Bad Habits and Change Behaviors
    • How to Make Healthy Food and Healthy Lifestyle Choices Now
    • How to Upgrade Your Morning Routine
    • Kids Physical and Mental Health Infographic
    • Loving-Kindness Meditation for Compassion and Well-Being
    • Loving Kindness Meditation infographic
    • Meditation to Boost Health and Well-Being
    • Mental Health and Heart Health
    • Mental Health in the Workplace
    • Mindful Eating Infographic
    • Mindful Eating: Savor The Flavor
    • Redefining Failure: How to Overcome Setbacks
    • Season's Healing: 5 Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress
    • Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude
    • Single-Parent and Working-Parent Heart Health
    • Thankfulness: How Gratitude Can Help Your Health
    • Time is Right to Focus on Mental Health
  • How to Help Prevent Heart Disease At Any Age
  • Quit Vaping, Smoking, Tobacco
    • Five Steps to Quit Smoking and Vaping
    • Help! I Want to Quit Smoking!
    • Menthol Tobacco Marketing Targets
    • The Benefits of Quitting Smoking Now
    • Living Tobacco-Free
    • How Smoking and Nicotine Damage Your Body
    • The Ugly Truth About Vaping
    • What You Need to Know About Vaping
    • Is Vaping Better Than Smoking?
    • Vaping and Medical Emergencies
    • How to Keep Kids and Teens from Smoking and Vaping
    • Using Science to Promote Better Regulation of Tobacco Products
    • Tips for Friends and Family of Quitters
    • E cigarettes Threaten the "Tobacco Endgame"
    • Triple Threat: The Hidden Dangers of E-Cigarettes, Oral Nicotine Pouches and Heat-Not-Burn Products
    • Youth and Tobacco: A New Crisis Infographic
    • The 101 on e-Cigarettes Infographic
  • Sleep
    • 3 Tips for Better Sleep Infographic
    • Take a Nap: The Benefits of Napping and How to Make It Work for You
    • How Sleep Affects Your Health Infographic
    • How to Establish a Wakeup Routine for a Good Morning Every Morning
    • How to Sleep Better with a Bedtime Routine
    • How to Sleep Better with Tech Tweaks
    • Is Sleeping In on Weekends Good for Your Health
    • Sleep Better with Healthy Lifestyle Habits
    • Sleep Well Infographic
    • Sleep Your Way to a Smarter Brain
    • What is good sleep and how much do I need?
    • How to Sleep Better Infographic
  • Stress Management
    • 10 Ways to Relax in Nature and Stress Less
    • 3 Tips to Manage Stress
    • Breathing Brings Benefits Infographic
    • Financial Stress Losing Money Infographic
    • Help Teens Cope with Stress
    • Holiday Stress? Try Our Top 5 Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season
    • JOMO: The Joy of Missing Out Infographic
    • Manage Stress With the Power of Connection
    • Meditation and Mindfulness Videos
    • Self-Care Isn't Selfish Infographic
    • Spend Time in Nature to Reduce Stress and Anxiety
    • Stress and Heart Health
    • Stress Less with Healthy Habits Infographic
    • Stress and Strain, Body and Brain Infographic
    • Stressed Out Infographic
    • Take Action To Control Stress
    • Tips to Lower Stress Infographic
    • Understanding How Stress Affects the Body
    • What Is Stress Management
    • Women and Stress
    • Women and Stress Infographic
    • Working Out to Relieve Stress

Related Articles

Busy working Mom on cell phone and laptop holding baby

Stress and Heart Health

smiling African American woman writing in journal in pajamas

Take Action To Control Stress

CVS Health is a proud national sponsor of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement.
Goredforwomen.org/es is made possible through the generous support of the Adriana Gallardo Legacy Fund for Women's Health.

*All health/medical information on this website has been reviewed and approved by the American Heart Association, based on scientific research and American Heart Association guidelines. Find more information on our content editorial process.

American Heart Association

National Center
7272 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75231

Customer Service
1-800-AHA-USA-1
1-800-242-8721

Contact Us

Hours
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT 
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT
Closed on Sundays

Tax Identification Number
13-5613797

About Us

  • About the AHA/ASA
  • Annual Report
  • AHA Financial Information
  • Careers
  • International Programs
  • Latest Heart and Stroke News
  • AHA/ASA Media Newsroom

Get Involved

  • Donate Now
  • Make a Memorial Gift
  • Advocate
  • Ways to Give
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
  • ShopCPR

Our Sites

  • American Heart Association
  • American Stroke Association
  • CPR & ECC
  • Professional Heart Daily
  • More Sites
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Threads
  • X formerly known as Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Tik Tok
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • National Health Council Standards of Excellence Certification Program page for Standards of Excellence
  • Better Business Bureau page for American Heart Association
  • Charity Navigator Home
  • Secured by Sectigo page for SSL certificates
×
American Heart Association

This link is provided for convenience only and is not an endorsement of either the linked-to entity or any product or service.

Proceed
  • AHA Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Copyright Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Conflict of Interest Policy
  • Linking Policy
  • Whistleblower Policy
  • Content Editorial Guidelines
  • Suppliers & Providers
  • State Fundraising Notices


©2025 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
The American Heart Association is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
*Red Dress ™ DHHS, Go Red ™ AHA ; National Wear Red Day® is a registered trademark.