News

Starbucks offering meditation app to employees

Provided

January 6, 2020

Understanding that one in five adults experience some form of mental illness each year, Starbucks has added Headspace, a subscription service offering hundreds of themed sessions and easy guided meditations, to its list of employee benefits, according to a press release.

The offering, which includes programs to help people with stress, anxiety and other mental health issues, is the latest perk to come from the coffee giant's enhanced Employee Assistance Program created with feedback from employees and qualified mental health experts to connect more partners to quality care that meets their specific needs. The chain held an event last fall for store managers and field leaders from the U.S. and Canada with the purpose of declaring that "mental health matters at Starbucks."

"Together, we're on a mission to take a stand, help break the stigma, and get even more partners and their family the support they need,"  Lucy Helm, chief partner officer, said in the release.

The company is also working with the National Council for Behavioral Health on a dedicated training program for all U.S. and Canada store managers inspired by Mental Health First Aid. The plan is to  provide guidance and skills needed to listen to staff and provide initial resources that can support someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue, substance use problem or crisis.

Starbucks is also working with other organizations that share its purpose to help break the stigma around mental health, including the Born This Way Foundation to bring kindness to customers on World Kindness Day, and Team Red White & Blue and Team Rubicon on Veterans Day to reaffirm its commitment to the country's military personnel, their families and their mental health.