With nearly two-thirds of workers living with a mental illness or symptoms of one, the need for employers to help them address those challenges is critical, Quad Cities business leaders learned during the 2025 QCBJ Health Symposium.
“I want to talk about mental health in the workplace because more and more we are recognizing that mental wellness and mental wellbeing is a workplace priority,” Vera French CEO Dr. Rich Whitaker told a crowd of business and health care leaders Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Bettendorf’s Waterfront Convention Center.
Dr. Whitaker also shared insights he has gleaned while leading a Quad Cities family of nonprofit Iowa corporations. It includes Vera French Community Mental Health Center, Vera French Housing and the Vera French Foundation. “With the stiff competition for workers, anything we can do within reason to support workers makes sense,” Dr. Whitaker said.
“Workers who felt supported had better mental health outcomes were more likely to report the positive impact of their work on their mental health,” he added. “They were more comfortable talking about their mental health and they really engaged better in their organization.”
Joining him on the stage at the QCBJ’s second annual health care event were Nicole Carkner, executive director of the Quad City Health Initiative (QCHI); Gray Matters Collective founder Haley DeGreve; and Jacqueline Robson, of HyVee Health – Exemplar Care.
The symposium also featured a Workplace Wellness in Action panel discussion moderated by KWQC TV6 anchor Marcia Lense. It was led by Bobbi Jo Cox, director of HR, McCarthy-Bush; Matthew De Bisschop, senior vice president, resources and government affairs, Ascentra Credit Union; Jean Hansen, senior benefits specialist, QCR Holdings; Morgan Milner, assistant general counsel at Modern Woodmen of America; and Kathleen Richlen, human resources director, City of Bettendorf. Platinum Sponsor was HyVee Health – Exemplar Care. The Gold Sponsor was Vera French Mental Health for Healthy Living.
Need real, urgent
The need to invest in workplace mental health care is real and it’s urgent, speakers agreed.
Dr. Whitaker, for example, pointed to a 2023 study in which 61% of 1,500 American workers surveyed reported having a mental illness or some symptoms of one. That same study by Mind Share Partners also found that 71% of workers wanted to work at a place that was very supportive of their mental health.
Are modern workplaces delivering? Results are mixed. For example, he said, the study revealed that while 38% said their workplace was actually contributing to their mental wellbeing, 31% said their workplace caused issues with their mental health.
What makes a workplace good for your employee’s mental health? Dr. Whitaker asked. It’s a “Place where they actually feel safe to talk about mental health anxiety, depression; it’s not a bad thing to feel those things sometimes, as long as it’s not interfering with your productivity,” he said. If it is, he said, ““The good news is there are steps businesses can take to protect their workers’ mental health and wellbeing.” That includes, for example, a healthy work-life balance.
“It’s good for your mental health to have separation between work and the rest of your life,” Dr. Whitaker said. “That’s what work-life balance is all about. Make sure work is not dominating your life and you do have a good separation there,” he said.
Readers can find out more about workplace mental health care from the 2025 Health Care Symposium in the Monday, Feb. 17 issue of the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal.
