Walmart Launches Major Employee Mental Health Support Initiative

Walmart is launching a major mental health education and support effort for its employees as the U.S. grapples with a behavioral health crisis.

The retail giant, which has nearly 1.6 million workers in the U.S. alone, Monday announced a new “Workplace Mental Health course” that will focus on teaching Walmart leaders and managers how to deal with someone struggling with behavioral health issues. The course will be facilitated by clinicians from the company Lyra Health, which is known for educating on mental health risks in the workplace.

Walmart wants to “appropriately and empathetically engage with someone who may be struggling with a mental health challenge,” Walmart’s Chief People Officer, Donna Morris said in a memo to company leaders including campus associates at the director level and above across the retailer’s markets and regions.