Japan Mental Health and Well-being Leadership Coalition

About the Coalition

The Japan Mental Health Well-being Leadership Coalition brings together corporate leaders from both Japan and the United States to advance workforce mental health and well-being. We engage Japanese and global corporations operating in Japan, as well as Japanese subsidiaries based in the U.S., to build shared solutions and strengthen mental health and well-being support for employees and their families.

This work is grounded in science, strategy, and global collaboration, guided by the following partners:

Columbia University Mental Health + Work Design Lab leverages extensive scientific expertise to provide thought leadership, content expertise, and strategic guidance on advancing mental health and well-being at work.

One Mind at Work is a global coalition of organizations committed to the development and implementation of a gold standard for workplace mental health and well-being.

Our Purpose

We advance a global movement led by Japanese and global corporations in Japan, along with Japanese subsidiaries in the U.S., committed to transforming workplace culture through mental health and well-being. By uniting leaders across regions and sectors, we aim to build a future where mental well-being is embedded into business strategy, organizational design, and daily operations – guided by data, shaped by culture, and sustained by leadership.

Our Goals

Leadership Engagement as a Strategic and Moral Imperative

We empower Japanese corporate leaders to prioritize mental health and well-being as both a business and human imperative, embedding it into the culture and operations of their organizations.

Building Mentally Healthy Workplace Cultures in a Culturally Relevant Way

We foster environments where open dialogue, psychological safety, and stigma-free support are standard practice, grounded in approaches that reflect Japanese values and lived experience.

Driving Impact through Evidence-Based Strategies

We use the Mental Health at Work Index to assess maturity, identify gaps, establish a regional benchmark, and guide the adoption of science-backed practices that deliver measurable outcomes.

Sustaining Momentum with Long-Term Vision and Action

We build infrastructure for lasting change by cultivating a community of practice through executive roundtables, peer learning, and shared accountability that keeps mental health and well-being central to business success.

Why Mental Health and Well-being is Crucial for Japanese Industries

The average professional spends 90,000 hours at work over the course of a lifetime. Employers have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to create mentally healthy workplaces by reducing exposure to psychosocial risks and hazards, promoting capacity building and stigma reducing efforts, and providing high-quality, easily accessible care. For Japanese industries, this work is especially urgent amid a shrinking workforce, growing competition for talent, and increasing expectations around mental health and well-being in the workplace from younger generations.

Why Mental Health and Well-being Matters for Japanese Subsidiaries in the U.S.

Japanese expatriates and their families face significant challenges, including cultural and workplace adaptation stress, language barriers, limited access to culturally competent care, and heightened isolation, all of which impact overall well-being and job performance.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, majority-owned Japanese affiliates employed nearly one million Americans in 2022, making Japanese corporations the second-largest foreign employer in the U.S. They contributed $174.4 billion to U.S. GDP, invested $57.7 billion in capital projects, and conducted $11.5 billion in research and development. These figures underscore the importance of supporting the mental health and well-being of Japanese multinational corporate employees and their families.