Washington L&I Expands Workplace Mental Health Resources
New guidance from Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries encourages employers to address workplace stress, burnout and psychological safety as part of overall worker health.
By Stasia DeMarcoMay 14, 2026
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is expanding its emphasis on workplace mental health with a growing collection of employer resources designed to help organizations address stress, burnout and psychological well-being on the job.
The agency’s online “Mental Health in the Workplace” resource page provides guidance for employers, supervisors and workers on recognizing mental health challenges, reducing workplace stressors and creating supportive work environments. The initiative reflects a broader shift in occupational safety and health toward viewing psychological well-being as a core workplace safety issue rather than solely a human resources concern.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental health condition, a statistic cited by Washington L&I as part of its outreach efforts. The agency notes that workplace stressors can increase the risk of mental health challenges and may also affect productivity, injury recovery and employee retention.
The online resource center includes toolbox talks, OSHA mental health checklists, suicide prevention materials and guidance on fostering supportive workplace cultures. Topics include stress management, emotional wellness, communication strategies and reducing stigma around mental illness in the workplace.
“Workplaces already have communication structures in place” that can support healthier behaviors and stronger social support systems, L&I noted in announcing the initiative.
The agency also emphasizes that mental health can directly influence injury recovery and return-to-work outcomes. Washington’s workers’ compensation system increasingly incorporates behavioral health interventions to address psychosocial barriers that may interfere with recovery following a workplace injury.
Those interventions may include short-term counseling, stress management techniques, cognitive behavioral approaches and return-to-work support strategies intended to help workers cope with anxiety, chronic pain and workplace-related stress.
Industry experts say the growing attention to workplace mental health reflects a larger evolution in occupational safety programs nationwide. Employers are increasingly recognizing that fatigue, stress, isolation and burnout can contribute to incidents, absenteeism and long-term health risks just as physical hazards do.
The Washington L&I initiative aligns with broader Total Worker Health efforts that integrate mental wellness, organizational culture and injury prevention into workplace safety strategies.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.