15: On Aon’s Focus on Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health with Shekhar Saxena

Depression is the top cause for ill health around the world, and yet mental health rarely receives the attention and support that is needed to improve wellness. Aon is working to change that. In this special episode of “On Aon,” host Lisa Stevens, Chief People Officer and Head of Global Human Capital Solutions at Aon, is joined by Shekhar Saxena, Professor of Global Mental Health at Harvard, to discuss how we talk about mental health in the workplace, how to be on the lookout for those in need and more. Saxena is a psychiatrist by training, and he spent several decades at the World Health Organization and authored more than 300 academic papers. They discuss the importance of focusing on mental health, the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on mental health around the world, the responsibility that organizations have to provide a mentally healthy and safe environment for their employees and how organizations can help and support employees who are struggling to maintain their mental health.

• Saxena’s professional journey in the practice and science of global mental health. [1:36]
• “Mental health is health” -- why you need to keep your mental health healthy. [4:02]
• Every organization should be focusing on the mental health of their employees. [6:14]
• How can we increase and improve conversations about mental health? [7:08]
• Early signs of declining mental health in yourself and your colleagues. [10:48]
• Three strategies to improve mental health and decrease burnout. [14:20]
• Insights into the future of the workplace and mental health. [18:40]
• Aon’s newly revealed values and activity to support mental health in the workplace. [22:35]

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Shekhar Saxena below, and read through his research and material here

Learn more about One Mind at Work

“Depression: let’s talk” says WHO, as depression tops list of causes of ill health

Aon’s 2020 Health Survey explores the impact of COVID-19 on employee wellbeing, and how employers can support their people. And in case you missed it, check out “On Aon” episode 6, focused on Aon’s 2021 Global Wellbeing Survey

Aon’s The One Brief: The Impact of Mental and Emotional Health on Employee Wellbeing

Looking for more? The Well One app provides Health & Wellbeing Resources to support individual and employee health

Aon’s website

More on Shekhar Saxena:

Shekhar Saxena is the Visiting Professor of Global Mental Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

A psychiatrist by training, he was in the faculty of AIIMS, New Delhi before he joined the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1998. From 2010 to 2018, he was the Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at the WHO. Author of more than 300 academic papers, he was an editor of the Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health and Sustainable Development in 2018. His expertise includes providing evidence-based advice and technical assistance to policy makers, businesses and civil society on mental health promotion and prevention and management of mental, developmental, neurological and substance use disorders and suicide prevention.

More on Lisa Stevens:

Lisa Stevens is Aon’s Chief People Officer (CPO) and Head of Global Human Capital Solutions. As CPO, she is responsible for creating, implementing and leading the strategies that empower Aon’s 50,000 colleagues serving clients in over 120 countries to fully align with the client-centric Aon United mission. Stevens leverages her ability to deliver business results as she leads the People Organization, including culture & change, talent, rewards and diversity, equity & inclusion strategies and their global functions. Reporting to the CEO, Stevens plays a critical role in overseeing the coaching and executive talent development and succession planning strategies for Aon. In addition to her CPO role, Stevens leads Aon’s Global Human Capital Solutions, which provides clients with a powerful mix of data, analytics and advice to help them make better workforce decisions. With 2,000 colleagues across 30 countries, the team includes Rewards, Talent Assessment, Corporate Governance, Environmental, Social and Governance consulting and performance & analytics practices.

Stevens joined Aon in 2018 as Executive Vice President of Aon United Operations, where she led the Delivering Aon United strategy and adoption to accelerate client value creation and drive growth by increasing collaboration across geographies and solution lines.

Her leadership objective is for colleagues around the world to be inspired by the Aon United mission, committed to professional development and work as a unified global team to build and be a part of a firm that consistently delivers great outcomes for clients, and even greater impact in the communities we serve around the world.

Tweetables:

“Especially during the COVID-19 time, I am very interested in seeing to it that organizations do better for the mental health of their employees and staff.” — Shekhar Saxena

“Mental health has to be very clearly differentiated from mental illness and disorders.” — Shekhar Saxena

“We should create an environment… where we can talk freely about our own mental health and emotional wellbeing.” — Shekhar Saxena

“Be kind to others while being kind to yourself.” — Shekhar Saxena

“Organizations have a responsibility to provide a mentally healthy environment.” — Shekhar Saxena