How We All Want to Approach Mental Health Together [1]The current mental health trends around us and ERG's initiatives
"I can't muster the motivation for anything," "I can't sleep," "I sleep too much," "I feel down." Persistent unexplained physical symptoms like stomachaches, headaches, or nausea...
Have you ever experienced something like this? Or have you ever been confided in by a colleague about such experiences? These physical and mental discomforts can stem from various stresses—work, family, personal life—and are symptoms that can potentially affect anyone.
According to a 2003 survey by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the lifetime prevalence rate for mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder is 9.0%, meaning about 1 in 11 people. Over 20 years later, these issues have likely become even more common. Furthermore, many people experience unexplained discomfort without a specific diagnosis. However, a major challenge remains: mental health issues often feel difficult to discuss with others, leading people to endure them in silence.
In today's so-called "stress society," more companies are actively engaging in mental health care. At Dentsu Inc., a group of employees who have personally experienced mental health challenges, supporters, and those studying psychology at universities voluntarily came together. This led to the launch of the "Dentsu Mental Health Lab" in 2021. Recently, it has been positioned as one of the company's ERGs (Employee Resource Groups, voluntary employee community activities), expanding the scope of its activities.
In this series, members of the Dentsu Inc. Mental Health Lab will share insights gained through our lab activities about the current mental health landscape and our company's initiatives. We hope to provide a starting point for thinking about building more inclusive societies and workplaces.
<TABLE of Contents>
▼The State of Mental Health
▼The Relationship Between Corporate Activities and Mental Health
▼"Mental Health Cafe": A Space for Peer Groups to Share Feelings
▼What Dentsu Inc. Mental Health Lab Aims For
The State of Mental Health
In 2013, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare added mental disorders such as depression to the "Five Major Diseases," recognizing them as conditions requiring extensive and continuous medical care, alongside cancer, stroke, cardiovascular diseases like myocardial infarction, and diabetes.
More recently, the psychological impact of changes in lifestyle and work patterns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has been widely discussed. A 2020 joint survey by the U.S. software company Oracle and the research firm Workplace Intelligence found that 78% of workers in 11 countries, including Japan, responded that "COVID-19 has had a negative impact on their mental health." Factors reported included increased stress, disruption of work-life balance, feelings of isolation, sleep deprivation, and tension in family relationships.
Furthermore, according to the "Occupational Safety and Health Survey (Actual Conditions Survey)" conducted by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2022, the percentage of workplaces with employees who took leave for one month or more or resigned due to mental health issues was 65.3% for workplaces with 300 to 499 employees and as high as 90.8% for workplaces with 1,000 or more employees.
Workers who took leave for one month or more due to mental health issues accounted for 0.6% of all regular employees. With Japan's 2023 workforce at 60.76 million※1, this translates to over 360,000 individuals.
Furthermore, according to the "Survey Report on Health Insurance Cash Benefit Recipients" compiled by the National Health Insurance Association (Kenkō Hoken Kyōkai) for fiscal year 2022, mental and behavioral disorders are a cause that forces working people to take relatively long periods of leave compared to other injuries, illnesses, or diseases.
※1 Source: National Institute of Labor Policy and Training
The Relationship Between Corporate Activities and Mental Health
In recent years, more companies are working to maintain and enhance the physical and mental health of their employees, creating environments where they can maximize their potential. This has led to an active movement within corporate management to prioritize sustainability. For individuals with constraints, establishing an environment where they can work sustainably can also lead to the realization of diverse work styles. This, in turn, could enhance corporate value and create a positive cycle where the company becomes one chosen by workers.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare states that promoting mental well-being requires effectively advancing the following "Four Care Areas," ensuring smooth implementation of workplace environment improvements, responses to mental health issues, and support for the return to work of those on leave.
Following this "Four Care" framework, here are some examples of Dentsu Inc.'s initiatives.
For example, "Self-Care" includes stress checks and associated consultations with company doctors. An example of "Line Management Care" is the monthly 1-on-1 meeting with supervisors. Held regularly as a growth support opportunity, it is valued not only for career discussions but also as a chance to share plans for taking scheduled leave and personal matters.
"Care by workplace occupational health staff" includes initiatives like new employee training and supervisor training, support for returning to work, interview guidance for employees working long hours, and a health consultation desk where employees can directly consult with the company doctor.
Additionally, the top of the homepage on the internal portal, which employees log into daily, features a "Consultation Window" icon. This icon provides a consolidated list of internal and external consultation resources categorized by specific issues.
Beyond these systems, numerous initiatives unique to Dentsu Inc. are implemented, primarily driven by HR, general affairs departments, and frontline employees.
Here is one example.
・Providing breakfast to start the day energetically
・Loaning smart devices for sleep and fitness management
・Distribution of vouchers for the company café to promote team communication
・New employee training sessions led by company doctors and second-year employees, focusing on the theme of "breaks"
・Group activities and advice on exercise and diet led by public health nurses
・Expansion of community spaces for casual conversation across departments and positions
・Events themed around efficient rest learned from top athletes
・Events centered on sleep
These initiatives represent a "customized support system" characteristic of Dentsu Inc., reflecting both management's vision and the voices from the field.
※2＝Line refers to managers such as department heads and section chiefs
Mental Health Cafes: Spaces for Peer Groups to Share Feelings
While the contribution of traditional mental health systems supported by experts has been significant and will continue to be so, a trend has emerged in recent years beyond these systems: implementing "individual initiatives" centered on information sharing by non-expert members (such as creating environments through individual member interactions or ERGs).
For example, the often-mentioned "psychological safety" refers to creating a workplace environment where individual members feel they can freely express their opinions or take risks.
A representative initiative is the "Mental Health Cafe" held every two months during lunch breaks at Dentsu Inc. Mental Health Lab. This cafe brings together around 10 employees from within the group who have experienced mental health challenges (a peer group) to share their experiences and feelings. Clinical psychologist and medical doctor, Dr. Tetsuji Sawa, participates as a supervisor.
Held regularly online since 2022, the 18th session took place in November 2024.
Mental health issues vary greatly from person to person in terms of causes, symptoms, and coping methods. The Mental Health Café is not a place for general discussions or solutions. Instead, it is a time to listen to one person's personal story and emotions, to empathize, and to reflect on themes that often have no clear answers. Speaking is never forced. As a result, participants may become deep in thought, hesitate to speak, or have pauses in conversation. We value silence as an important part of this time for self-reflection, without pressure to speak.
We strive for safe operation by establishing ground rules, including confidentiality and referrals to official company support channels. We hope this space offers participants even a little relief from anxiety or new insights.
Feedback from past participants includes:
* "Just knowing this kind of space exists within the company gives me a sense of security."
・"I was finally able to voice my true feelings, things I'd never shared with anyone before."
・"After getting my job offer, I searched 'Dentsu Inc. Mental Health' and found this lab and cafe. It made me feel confident about joining the company."
These are some of the comments we've received.
What Dentsu Inc. Mental Health Lab Aims to Achieve
At Dentsu Inc. Mental Health Lab, we aim to build a customized culture and foundation for mental health within the company, based on the voices of employees who are not specialists.
However, running a mental health cafe is no simple task.
Even with a clinical psychologist present, it's a non-specialist endeavor for the lab members running it, and it becomes a space for sharing sensitive personal health information.
The organizers themselves are also individuals affected by mental health challenges. Consequently, they constantly face fears of criticism—such as being perceived by non-participants as "just a place where people with issues commiserate"—and anxieties like "What if no one shows up?" Participants also share concerns before attending, such as "I was worried about whether I could talk freely if someone I knew was there."
Yet, we also feel that precisely because we are individuals directly affected by mental health challenges, we are uniquely positioned to tackle this challenge.
By creating spaces where mental health can be discussed openly, listening to those directly affected, and carefully sharing their voices, we can build a society where mental health is a shared concern. Through the lab's activities, I'm beginning to sense this possibility.
We hope for a world where mental health struggles, still often difficult to share with anyone, become something everyone can relate to personally. We hope for an era where talking about mental health is as casual and easy as discussing your favorite idol or what to have for lunch today.
At Dentsu Inc. Mental Health Lab, we plan and implement initiatives beyond Mental Health Cafés. These include dialogue events between individuals within our group who have experienced mental health challenges and psychosomatic medicine specialists, as well as mental health training for managers based on the voices of those directly affected. Our goal is to enable people to work authentically despite mental health issues and their associated limitations, and to reduce stigma surrounding mental health challenges.
While there are no quick-fix solutions, we aim to steadily build these spaces and expand such initiatives beyond our company.
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Author
Nao Takemoto
Dentsu Inc.
After seven years of planning experience in the Media/Marketing Department at the Kansai Branch Office, I spent seven years racing ahead as a BP manager for a cosmetics brand. Since 2023, I've been working tirelessly in my current role. It wasn't until I experienced my own struggles that I realized my own biases about mental health issues and the peer pressure to "stay strong." This led me to join the Dentsu Inc. Mental Health Lab. I'm currently studying psychology while finding balance through calligraphy, yoga, and travel.
Haruka Watanabe
Dentsu Inc.
Graduated from the Faculty of Economics in 2012 and the Faculty of Psychology in 2022. Engaged in human resource development and environmental improvement, primarily within creative departments. Having experienced mental health challenges personally, founded the "Mental Health Lab" to promote mental health awareness and support. Also provides business support utilizing illustrations. Passionate about travel and motorcycles, always looking for opportunities to explore both domestically and internationally.
Daisuke Nakajima
Dentsu Inc.
Currently in this position since 2023. As a researcher, I am broadly responsible for studies on the advertising market and analyzing and researching consumer media trends. Having developed an interest in mental health from personal experience, I have also been affiliated with the Dentsu Inc. Mental Health Lab since 2022. I love clothes, was born in Tokyo, and support a Fukuoka soccer team.
Sawa Tetsuji
FromU LLC
While engaged in university education, I provide comprehensive psychological support and consulting services for individuals ranging from children to adults. I practice psychological support that leverages diversity by understanding neuropsychological characteristics alongside each person's life history and cultural background. I serve as supervisor for the "Mental Health Cafe" hosted by Dentsu Mental Health Lab.