Corporate India Must Put Mental Health First, Says Coach Veena
As conversations around employee well-being gain momentum across corporate India, mental health advocates are urging organisations to look beyond productivity metrics and focus on the emotional and psychological health of employees.
Workplace well-being speaker Coach Veena recently conducted two interactive sessions on mental health and stress management for employees at Innova Solutions in Noida. The sessions were organised in two shifts so that employees with different work schedules could attend comfortably.
The workshops focused on workplace well-being, emotional resilience, and practical strategies to manage stress in high-pressure professional environments.
Employees Open Up About Workplace Pressure
Despite busy schedules, employees actively participated in the sessions, raising questions about career stress, family expectations, and the struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
According to Coach Veena, the openness shown by participants reflected a growing need for workplaces to acknowledge mental health concerns.
She pointed out that many organisations remain heavily focused on deadlines, targets and profits while investing very little in employee well-being.
“Many organisations prioritise productivity but overlook the mental health of their workforce. It was encouraging to see employees openly discussing their concerns,” she said.
Debate on Career Choices and Identity
One discussion that sparked significant interest was around career decisions among women in modern households.
Coach Veena initially encouraged women to continue working throughout their careers to maintain financial independence and professional identity. However, some participants shared that many women voluntarily choose to step away from careers after marriage in favour of a more comfortable lifestyle supported by their partner’s income.
The discussion gradually evolved into a broader conversation about identity, independence and long-term emotional fulfilment.
Several employees observed that while leaving a career may initially feel liberating, some individuals later experience frustration due to financial dependence or a loss of personal identity.
Coach Veena noted that over time such dependency can create discomfort, particularly when financial decisions or personal spending come under scrutiny.
Gen Z Mental Health Concerns Highlighted
Another major topic raised during the sessions was the mental health challenges faced by Generation Z professionals entering the workforce.
Many younger employees shared that anxiety, stress and emotional burnout often originate from pressures experienced during their formative years.
Participants pointed to parental expectations, academic competition and social comparison as major factors shaping mental health struggles later in life.
Some employees suggested that parents unintentionally pass their own anxieties and unfulfilled ambitions to their children, which can eventually lead to emotional stress in adulthood.
Coach Veena acknowledged these concerns and emphasised the importance of emotional awareness both at home and in professional spaces.
“Gen Z is much more open about discussing mental health compared to earlier generations. Instead of dismissing their concerns, we must understand the root causes of their anxiety and help them develop healthy coping mechanisms,” she said.
Practical Tools for Stress Management
During the sessions, Coach Veena introduced participants to several somatic tools—body-based techniques designed to regulate stress and improve emotional resilience.
These techniques help individuals recognise how their body responds to stress and use practices such as mindful breathing, grounding exercises and awareness techniques to calm the nervous system.
Employees also discussed the difference between healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Coach Veena warned against habits like binge eating, emotional online shopping—sometimes called “trauma shopping”—and alcohol consumption as ways to manage stress.
“These behaviours may provide temporary relief but they rarely solve the root cause of stress and can worsen emotional health over time,” she explained.
Instead, she encouraged employees to focus on healthier strategies such as physical movement, mindfulness practices, open communication and setting personal boundaries in both personal and professional life.
Growing Need for Corporate Mental Health Programs
Experts believe such initiatives are becoming increasingly important as workplaces evolve and younger professionals bring new expectations about well-being and workplace culture.
The sessions at Innova Solutions were coordinated with the support of Shilpa Rajpoot as part of the organisation’s employee engagement initiative.
According to Coach Veena, creating safe spaces where employees can openly discuss stress and emotional challenges is essential for building healthier workplaces.
“Conversations like these remind people they are not alone in their struggles. When organisations prioritise well-being, it ultimately leads to more productive and resilient teams,” she said.
With corporate burnout becoming a global concern, experts say structured mental health programs, counselling support and well-being workshops may soon become a standard part of workplace culture rather than an optional initiative.
Coach Veena expressed hope that more organisations will recognise the value of investing in employee mental health and organise similar sessions in the future.
