A worker in an Amazon fulfillment center. (Amazon Photo)

Amazon launched a new mental health benefit for all U.S. employees and their families on Thursday, providing access to free counseling sessions, self-care programs, crisis support, and an app for self-paced treatment.

Called “Resources for Living,” the benefit is designed to give the company’s 950,000 U.S. employees a single place to start when seeking assistance.

The timing comes as Amazon has grown significantly over the past year, increasing its already vast warehouse footprint by 50% and adding 500,000 workers to keep up with demand for online shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are plans to add 75,000 more workers, and the tech giant has faced increased scrutiny over working conditions in its fulfillment facilities and among its delivery personnel.

In a news release, Amazon cited the nonprofit Mental Health America, which said more than 26 million adults went untreated for mental health concerns in the U.S. in 2020. The pandemic also added significant stress to parents, according to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association.

Earlier this week, Amazon introduced a new employee wellness program called WorkingWell, designed to provide activities, exercises and support to reduce the risk of injury for hundreds of thousands of workers across the company’s operations network.

The Resources for Living program includes:

  • Free one-on-one counseling sessions — three sessions per person, per topic. Amazon will fund up to 24 million counseling sessions per year for its U.S. employees.
  • Flexible options including in-person, phone, video, or text conversations for counseling sessions.
  • Interactive self-care programs, including self-assessments, and a stress resource center.
  • Crisis and suicide-prevention support and access to a licensed mental health clinician any time of day.
  • Access to a self-paced app that offers computerized Cognitive Behavior Therapy, mindfulness resources, and personalized support for a broad range of mental health and wellness issues.
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