Mental health and well-being

Elevating the conversation on mental health

In August 2017, Leidos launched an initiative to help do our part in taking action against the opioid epidemic. At the time, the magnitude of the crisis was just hitting headlines. As a team, we enacted many initiatives to tackle the issue — in our business and in our communities. We also challenged other companies to do the same. Over time, however, our efforts have organically grown to address not just opioid addiction but the broader challenges and underlying contributors to addiction associated with mental health and well-being.

At Leidos, we are devoted to identifying and solving some of the world's toughest problems. From driving health research to protecting soldiers in war zones to shaping environmental conservation plans; our minds help develop solutions that improve our world. This mission-critical work, often aimed at the most complex challenges, can only be done with the full capacity of our minds. We must proactively protect our minds and further commit to their health and well-being. Therein lies our opportunity. Together, we can be a catalyst for change. 

As we near the end of Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to double down on the promise for action I made in 2017 and extend my commitment to helping address the broader challenges related to mental health. Going forward, you will see new initiatives roll out under this umbrella.

We will focus on several areas for our initiatives, including:

• Anti-opioids and substance use disorder prevention 
• Anxiety, depression, and COVID-19-related impacts
• Anti-suicide efforts, especially related to veterans and the emerging vulnerable population of healthcare workers

Internally we will roll out a free app providing a diverse range of meditations, exercises, and programs that can be used to foster mental well-being for everyone at Leidos. Through our continued focus on our employees and our partnerships with community organizations, professional sports teams, and those at health and defense agencies, we will work to pull together critical players to elevate the conversation on mental health. We will also continue our important work to develop new solutions in the communities in which we live and work with the goal of improving the mental health of this generation and generations to come.

By driving bold conversations that break the stigma around mental health and by advancing research, I believe we can contribute to a world where the mind is better understood, developed, and protected.

Roger A. Krone
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer