In a recent podcast for Becker's Hospital Review, Neema Stephens, national medical director of health equity at Cigna, spoke to trends in mental health, maternal health, and some of the work Cigna is doing in driving health equity.

To better understand the current state of employee health and well-being, we scoured the web to collect some of the most relevant stats on the behavioral challenges the workforce is currently grappling with, specific demographics experiencing challenges, how American workers define health and well-being, and how employers are showing up for their people.

At Cigna, we believe that there are four key areas where a health plan can contribute to a business’s growth strategy.

Four years ago, Sondra Workman lost a loved one to suicide. As she grieved, she pledged to do something to help others: to learn and share techniques that can help prevent suicides. Cigna, her employer, gave her paid time off work and funding to amplify her efforts through its Community Ambassadors Fellowship program.

Having conversations with our kids about their mental health can be tough, but it’s an important way to maximize and support their overall health and well-being. For inspiration on how to proceed, we asked Cigna employees to share what works for them. Continue reading for their tips and suggestions.