Addressing men’s mental health in the workplace is not just about improving individual well-being, it raises workplace performance and morale, creating a healthier environment for everyone. Employers have a unique opportunity and responsibility to address this issue, reduce stigma and drive positive change in society.

Despite growing conversations about mental health, men’s mental health has reached a critical state, with rising rates of depression, anxiety and suicide. Research shows that 35% of working men think about suicide or self-harm at least a few times a week and that one in four men experience severe psychological pain at work. This silent crisis is particularly alarming because the workplace is where most adult men spend most of their waking hours – about a third of their lives.

The effects of suicide and poor mental health ripple through all aspects of society. So how can employers play a more active role in supporting men’s mental health? The first challenge is overcoming the same deeply ingrained societal expectations about masculinity. While men account for 75% of suicides, only 30% of people who use mental health services are men. Traditional norms that equate emotional expression with weakness and embarrassment have left many men suffering in silence and feeling isolated when it comes to asking for help.

Employers can help begin to dismantle this harmful stigma by introducing discussions about mental health and creating a safe space for men and all employees to acknowledge their struggles without fear of judgment. Making mental health a routine topic in team meetings, workshops and everyday conversations is the first step in changing workplace culture. Sharing statistics and personal stories can help illustrate these struggles to the community, encouraging men to talk openly.

The benefits of supporting men’s mental health extend far beyond the individual and the workplace. By creating an environment where men feel empowered to seek help, we build healthier coping mechanisms, relationships and communities. Normalizing conversations about mental health helps dismantle harmful societal norms, such as aggression and emotional suppression, that disproportionately affect women and other vulnerable groups. In this way, healthier men lead to healthier societies.

Employers should promote resources such as employee assistance programs that provide confidential counseling and support. Normalizing mental health days—just as we do for physical illness days—is another essential step toward destigmatizing mental health care. It is critical that employees not only know about these resources, but also feel comfortable accessing them. When leaders and colleagues openly discuss mental health and use these resources, they send a powerful message: Help-seeking is acceptable and encouraged.

By mandating mental health training for their people managers, people leaders are equipped with the skills to recognize mental health stress and provide support to those in need. A manager trained in mental health is better positioned to proactively identify when an employee is disengaged or disengaged due to mental health struggles – and proactively address it. They will also learn how and when to step in to help and where to teach mental health professionals.

While silence perpetuates the mental health crisis we see in men, now is the time for employers to step up and speak up. This initiative is not about prioritizing one group over another; but recognizing that we all benefit when mental health is taken seriously. By reducing the shame that men so often feel about their mental health and providing accessible resources and leading by example, employers can remove the barriers that prevent men from seeking life-saving help. By doing so, businesses will not only improve workplace culture, but also contribute to a more compassionate and fair society.

Kirsten I’Anson is vice president of people and culture at Community Savings Credit Union.