Picture this: It’s Tuesday morning, your calendar is stacked, emails are rolling in, and a coworker just flagged an urgent issue. You’re doing your best to stay productive, focused, maybe even positive—but underneath, the weight is real. Sound familiar? For too many professionals today, this is the rhythm of modern work: a constant churn that quietly chips away at mental health.
That’s why the conversation around workplace wellness has to evolve. If we want to improve mental health in the workplace, we need to go deeper than stress-reduction perks or wellness apps. The real transformation starts with helping people connect to what makes them feel strong, purposeful, and fully human—and that begins with awareness of character strengths.
When employees recognize and apply their unique strengths—the internal qualities that energize and stabilize them—they gain tools for resilience, connection, and psychological safety. This blog explores how to improve mental health in the workplace by activating the science of strengths and why doing so has a measurable impact on individual well-being, company culture, and organizational performance.
Why Mental Health at Work Needs a Reframe
Traditional approaches to promoting mental health in the workplace often focus on treating or preventing illness—offering EAPs, mindfulness apps, or burnout recovery programs. These services are valuable, but they rarely tap into the deeper drivers of mental well-being: meaning, belonging, agency, and growth.
In today’s evolving work environment, where challenges like anxiety, depression, and burnout are on the rise, employees need more than quick fixes. They need organizations to see them not just as workers, but as whole human beings with personal strengths, values, and purpose.
That’s where character strengths awareness comes in. It offers a science-backed way to support employee mental health by helping people tap into what energizes and grounds them—even during difficult times. Addressing mental health conditions in the workplace means considering both the risks and the resources—and strengths are among the most accessible resources we can provide.
What Are Character Strengths?
Character strengths are the positive personality traits that shape how we think, feel, and behave. They include qualities like kindness, perseverance, curiosity, hope, and gratitude. The VIA Institute on Character identifies 24 universal strengths that exist across cultures, each offering a different pathway to well-being.
Everyone possesses all 24 character strengths, but we each express them differently. Some strengths come more naturally—these are called signature strengths. Knowing your signature strengths and intentionally using them at work can:
- Build resilience
- Strengthen social connection
- Promote a positive workplace culture
- Increase feelings of psychological safety
- Improve employee mental health and engagement
When we implement practices that encourage the use of strengths, we aren't just promoting mental health in the workplace—we're creating a culture where people thrive.
The Science Behind Strengths and Mental Health at Work
A growing body of research highlights the powerful link between strength awareness and workplace mental health. A 2023 study by Peláez Zuberbühler, Coo Calcagni, and Salanova found that knowledge and use of personal strengths facilitated the positive impact of meaningful work on work-related mental health and engagement.
The study validated the Spanish Strengths Use and Knowledge Scales and found that employees who understood and applied their character strengths reported:
- Higher levels of meaningful work
- Increased workplace engagement
- Stronger mental health indicators
These findings reinforce what many professionals intuitively feel: when work aligns with who we are, we thrive. The effect is not only psychological but social—employees feel seen, supported, and energized. It's a preventive approach to mental health issues that helps reduce stress and burnout before they escalate.
Strength Awareness in Action: What It Looks Like
1. Assessment and Awareness: Organizations can begin by encouraging employees to take VIA's character strengths assessment. This provides individuals with insight into their full strengths profile—not just their Top 5, but all 24. Making this kind of resource widely accessible shows employees that their mental well-being is a real organizational priority.
2. Language and Culture: Leaders who use strengths language in meetings, feedback, and goal setting help create a strengths-based workplace. For example, recognizing a team member for their perseverance or creativity reinforces that those traits are seen and valued. This kind of social validation encourages ongoing development and fosters trust—an essential component of a healthy work environment.
3. Daily Application: Strengths awareness isn’t just reflective—it’s practical. Employees can look for ways to use their strengths in daily tasks. A team member high in curiosity might lead a research project. Someone with kindness might serve as a mentor. These micro-moments of alignment reduce emotional fatigue and increase job satisfaction, which are both critical for addressing workplace mental health challenges.
4. Team-Level Integration: Managers and HR leaders can use strengths as a lens for team development. Mapping a team’s collective strengths can improve collaboration, support inclusion, and increase psychological safety—all of which positively impact mental health and workplace dynamics. These team-based interventions can also enhance communication, reduce conflict, and promote social well-being across departments.
Why Strength Awareness Supports Workplace Mental Health
It Helps Employees Feel Seen and Valued
Workplace mental health improves when individuals feel understood and appreciated for who they are. Strengths awareness allows people to feel known beyond their job title or output. It reduces the risk of disengagement and can help identify early signs of mental health concerns that may otherwise go unnoticed.
It Builds Resilience
When employees experience stress, their character strengths can become coping resources. For example, hope can fuel optimism, while perspective can reframe challenges. These personal tools are invaluable in high-pressure roles or during periods of organizational change.
It Creates More Meaningful Work
Studies show that meaningful work buffers against burnout and mental health issues. Using strengths turns ordinary tasks into opportunities for purpose and self-expression. When work is meaningful, employees report increased engagement, improved mental health, and fewer stress-related absences.
It Strengthens Psychological Safety
When leaders encourage the use of strengths, they create a culture of permission—where employees are free to be authentic, take risks, and share concerns without fear. That kind of environment is essential to promoting mental health in the workplace, especially in times of uncertainty or high demand.
Connecting Strengths to Organizational Initiatives
Organizations that focus on strengths-based development benefit employees and create ripple effects across teams and culture. For example, VIA’s strengths-based workplace framework outlines how strengths integration improves communication, productivity, and trust. These outcomes can contribute to improved workplace mental health at scale.
For Coaches, Consultants and HR leaders, the Workplaces at Their Best Consultant Certification provides a structured, evidence-based approach to help clients build strengths-aligned, psychologically safe cultures.
These programs aren’t just about personal growth—they’re powerful tools for improving organizational health, addressing burnout risk, and supporting employee mental health through sustainable practices.
Practical Ways to Bring Strengths to Life at Work
Include strengths questions in check-ins. Ask: "What strength did you use this week? What energized you most?" These conversations encourage daily reflection, reduce workplace stress, and make room for more open communication.
Create visual reminders. Team posters or digital dashboards that highlight team strengths make strengths visible and valued, supporting mental wellness and social cohesion.
Celebrate strength stories. In team meetings, recognize real examples of strengths in action. This encourages peer-to-peer validation and helps reinforce a positive company culture.
Embed strengths into onboarding and training. Let new employees know from day one that their strengths matter. This supports early engagement and sets a tone of care, belonging, and support.
Offer coaching or workshops. Help employees explore how strengths can support stress management, relationship building, and career development. These kinds of initiatives can be part of broader mental health programs or standalone training sessions.
A More Human Approach to Mental Health
At the heart of improving mental health in the workplace is a simple truth: people want to feel that who they are matters. Strength awareness offers a grounded, research-backed way to affirm that truth while giving employees practical tools to improve, adapt, and grow.
It also moves mental health work beyond reactive support and into proactive development. When employees have access to programs that affirm their worth and help them use their strengths, they’re more likely to feel resilient, empowered, and connected.
And that makes a real impact—not just on productivity or retention, but on lives. It helps prevent the kinds of mental health issues that too often go unspoken. It supports a healthier workforce, fosters sustainable performance, and builds the type of culture people want to be part of.
Ready to Support Your Workforce?
If you're exploring how to improve mental health in the workplace through sustainable, human-centered strategies, we'd love to help. The VIA Institute offers tools and pathways tailored to your organizational needs—from leadership development to team training to custom workplace initiatives.
Contact us for a 1:1 discussion to explore the best-fit options for your goals and workforce.