Each year, the Team at be nice. hosts a be nice. Business Symposium. The event gathers the implementers of be nice. programming at their prospective organizations for a day of collaboration, idea generation and insight when it comes to utilizing be nice. with their teams.

Typically, we focus on offering businesses tools to actively get employees on board with the be nice. action plan for mental health and suicide prevention - offering activities for all types of work (remote, on site, small and large teams, etc). In planning for the event this year, we came across this statistic from Forrester: 80% of employees are more likely to stay at a company that provides high-quality resources to care for their mental health.

This underscores what many organizational leaders already recognize: supporting employee mental health isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s also good for business. Employers that proactively support mental health don’t just help their people feel better; they also drive better retention, performance, productivity, and financial outcomes.

So we decided to focus on challenging leaders with our event this year. Challenging them to step up when it comes to the mental health of their employees.

That said, leadership isn’t always about titles, awards, or recognition. Often, it’s about the simple choice to step up — to notice a need, take action, and create positive change when it matters most. The be nice. action plan reminds us that anyone can lead the way in their community, workplace, or school by choosing confidence and inviting action - especially when it comes to mental health.

Mental health has a clear and measurable impact on organizational success. According to research, anxiety, depression, and stress cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion annually in lost productivity. Employees struggling with unresolved depression may experience up to 35% reduced productivity compared with their peers.

Numerous industry studies bolster the case that investing in mental health generates tangible benefits for employers:

• Higher engagement and retention: 79–80% of employees say they’re more likely to stay at a company that provides high-quality mental health resources (Forbes).
  
  
• Reduced burnout and turnover risk: Better mental health support helps prevent burnout — workers experiencing negative mental health impacts are more likely to look for new jobs or disengage (Modern Health).
  
  
• Lower absenteeism and higher productivity: Programs that improve mental well-being have been tied to 25% fewer missed workdays and a 24% increase in productivity (SHRM).
  
  
• Positive financial return: Workplace mental health programs have shown positive financial ROI, with employers reporting thousands of dollars saved per employee through reduced disability claims, turnover, and absenteeism (JAMA).
• Improved talent attraction: Companies with strong employee wellness and mental health support often outperform their peers in brand perception and talent recruitment (Deloitte Insights).

Taken together, this evidence shows that when organizations treat mental health as strategic — not peripheral — they create workplaces where people can thrive and businesses can succeed.

Stepping up doesn’t require grand gestures or formal authority. Often it shows up in everyday actions like:

• Speaking up when someone’s well-being is at risk
• Offering support when you see a challenge no one else is addressing
• Sharing your knowledge, experience, or resources to help someone navigate a difficult moment
  

Leadership begins with simply paying attention. It’s noticing when someone doesn’t quite seem like themselves — a shift in mood, energy, or behavior, even a small one. Sometimes it’s noticing changes in others, and sometimes it’s noticing them in yourself. Catching these moments early creates space for support before things feel overwhelming.

Inviting a conversation is one of the most powerful ways to step up. It doesn’t require the perfect words — just openness and care. Creating space for someone to talk, listening without judgment, and offering presence instead of pressure can make all the difference. A simple invitation like “Do you want to talk about what’s been going on?” can remind someone they’re not alone and that their story matters.