The big picture:
Cardinal Health is investing $1M into Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Center for Psychiatry and Resilience to translate mental health research into real-world strategies for employers, aiming to ease the burden of workplace mental illness, according to the Columbus Dispach.
Why it matters:
- 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with mental illness — but its ripple effects touch everyone.
- Depression alone costs the U.S. economy over $200 billion annually in lost productivity.
- The initiative focuses on making workplaces part of the solution, not just a source of stress.
The backstory:
Central Ohio business leaders — through the Ohio Business Roundtable — have prioritized mental health. Cardinal Health’s Foundation is turning that momentum into actionable tools for employers to implement employee-centered wellness strategies.
What we’re hearing:
“Mental illness transcends the individual — it affects five out of five of us.”
— Dr. K. Luan Phan, Chair of Psychiatry, OSU Wexner Medical Center
“Mental health isn’t just a moral imperative. It’s a strategic business investment.”
— Pat Tiberi, CEO, Ohio Business Roundtable
Zoom out:
This grant reflects a broader national shift: corporations are recognizing that investing in employee wellbeing improves retention, workplace culture, and overall performance.
Zoom in:
The OSU Center will use the funding to turn advanced mental health research into practical, accessible tools and wellness programs that employers can deploy to support their teams.
What’s next:
Expect to see new toolkits, scalable interventions, and workplace mental health programs tailored to employees’ real-world needs—starting in Ohio, with potential national implications.
The bottom line:
Mental health is no longer just a private issue. It’s economic, social, and organizational. This partnership marks a turning point where business and behavioral health unite for meaningful impact.
The Life Anew Angle:
For BIPOC and underrepresented communities, this initiative is especially significant. These groups often face systemic barriers to mental health care, cultural stigmas, and underrepresentation in workplace wellness programs.
Life Anew Behavioral Health provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive care that empowers families and communities. As employers step up, Life Anew’s mission—to deliver quality, holistic mental health services that help individuals thrive—is more essential than ever.
Empowerment begins at the intersection of care, culture, and community—and that’s where Life Anew leads.
