At KBR, employee well-being is a key focus area. Our leaders are committed to prioritizing mental wellness for each person within the organization. To this effect, various mental health initiatives have been implemented across KBR.

For instance, each KBR employee has access to the free meQ app, which provides guidance and strategies on managing stress and building personal resilience. Chapters of OK NoW (ONE KBR Network of Well-being), our employee mental wellness group, have been launched across KBR locations worldwide. And KBR has also launched the Mental Health First Aiders program (formally Well-being Ambassadors), through which KBR employees are trained to recognize signs of mental duress, to intervene, and to point colleagues toward available resources.

Resources like these would be valuable for anyone. For people who are solving the world’s toughest challenges and potentially dealing with the stress and pressure that can accompany their important jobs, these resources are crucial.

According to Ashley Owens, senior specialist of Global Mental Health and Fitness, HSSE, “Stress and anxiety are the body's natural reaction to a perceived threat. While useful in dangerous situations, chronic stress and anxiety can lead to burnout. When people find themselves in this state, they can experience debilitated decision-making, decreased emotion control, a lack of confidence and a focus shift.”

As a result, people begin to focus too much on surviving, not thriving, and we can experience emotional, physical or social repercussions. These can include feeling physically ill, experiencing strong emotional outbursts, such as anger or sadness, or wanting to withdraw from those around us.