When an employee’s child is struggling with their mental health, those challenges don’t simply disappear when the workday begins.
Parents may be searching for a therapist between meetings, taking time away for appointments, worrying about their child throughout the day, or managing difficult evenings with little time to recharge. Over time, that added mental load can affect an employee’s well-being, focus, and engagement at work.
For employers, it’s an important reminder that supporting employees can also mean supporting the families they care for.
When Family Stress Shows Up at Work
Balancing work, school schedules, childcare, finances, and family responsibilities is already demanding. When a child is experiencing anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, or another mental health concern, that pressure can grow.
At work, it may show up as:
- Difficulty concentrating or staying engaged
- Time away for appointments or caregiving
- Increased stress and fatigue
- Changes in productivity
- Greater risk of burnout
In fact, 1 in 3 working parents have changed or left their jobs because of their child’s mental health struggles. Family challenges and workplace well-being aren’t separate. When employees are worried about their children, it can affect how they feel and function at work.
Why Youth Mental Health Support Matters
About 70% of mental health disorders begin before age 18, and 1 in 5 children and youth in Canada will experience a mental health challenge.
For parents, recognizing that a child needs help is only the beginning. Finding the right care can add another layer of stress, especially when they’re already balancing work and family responsibilities. Benefits that provide access to youth mental health resources can give families a clearer place to turn.
Different Ages Need Different Types of Support
A young child struggling with emotional regulation and a teenager experiencing anxiety may need very different kinds of support.
Through sparrow, eligible employees and their families can access resources designed for different ages and needs, including:
Play-Based Emotional Regulation
Mightier, developed with experts from Harvard Medical School, uses play-based experiences to help children practise calming techniques and build emotional regulation skills.
Flexible Counselling for Youth
Families can connect with trained therapists who work with children and youth. Virtual appointments also make it easier to fit support around work, school, and family schedules.
Movement and Wellness
On-demand functional fitness for children ages 3 to 14 helps support movement, strength, mobility, and confidence from home. Together, these resources give families different ways to find support based on their child’s needs.
How Do Children’s Mental Health Benefits Help Reduce Workplace Absenteeism and Burnout?
Children’s mental health benefits can make it easier for working parents to access resources for their families, reducing some of the stress and time involved in finding appropriate support.
When a child is struggling, parents may need to manage appointments, search for providers, take time away from work, or provide additional care at home. Accessible youth mental health resources can provide clearer pathways to professional care and practical tools.
While benefits can’t remove every source of family stress, they can help ensure parents aren’t left navigating these challenges alone.
Supporting Employees Means Looking at the Bigger Picture
Employees don’t experience work and home in isolation. For working parents, having access to mental health support for their children can be an important part of their own well-being.
By considering the needs of employees and their families, employers can build benefits programs that better reflect the realities of today’s workforce.
Want to provide more meaningful mental health support for your employees and their families? Connect with a GroupHEALTH advisor to learn how sparrow can help.
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