The Hartford is renewing its support for a national mental health exhibit aimed at students and young adults, as new data from the insurer highlights how sharply mental health challenges are affecting Gen Z in the workplace.
The company is again sponsoring Send Silence Packing (SSP), a traveling exhibit created by nonprofit Active Minds that promotes conversations about suicide prevention and mental health on campuses in communities across the US.
The renewal comes as nearly half of Gen Z workers (47%) said their mental health impacts their productivity, while 37% said stigma prevents them from seeking care - both figures higher than for any generation in the workplace, according to The Hartford's annual survey of working Americans. Those numbers tie directly to absenteeism, disability claims and retention risk, particularly in sectors with large Gen Z workforces, such as retail, hospitality and customer service.
“Our data shows young adults are navigating unprecedented change and pressure, while facing persistent stigma around mental health,” said The Hartford’s chairman and CEO Christopher Swift. “Send Silence Packing is a proven catalyst for change, and we are honored to support Active Minds in sharing this impactful experience nationwide and helping the next generation thrive.”
The Hartford’s findings on Gen Z productivity add to wider evidence that mental health has become a core workforce risk.
That trend has fueled demands for more robust behavioral health coverage within medical plans, expanded employee assistance programs and virtual counseling. Mental health challenges can also complicate both physical recovery and return-to-work planning.
Although SSP is focused on students and young adults, the themes it highlights are directly relevant to workplace strategies. Employers that recruit from campuses visited by SSP may find new hires more likely to talk openly about mental health needs and to expect visible support from their employers and benefits providers.
The Hartford’s backing of Active Minds reflects a broader pattern of insurers partnering with mental health and youth-focused nonprofits as they respond to rising needs.
In the US, large health and life insurers have worked with organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America to underwrite awareness campaigns, workplace education, and anti-stigma initiatives. Property-casualty carriers and benefits specialists have also supported community programs around youth resilience, suicide prevention, and school-based mental health, recognizing the long-term connection between early intervention and future workforce and insurance outcomes.
Similar collaborations have emerged in other markets, where major insurers have partnered with charities focused on anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention, often combining funding with research, training, and digital tools for policyholders and employers. While the details vary, the aim is consistent: to move mental health support upstream, reduce stigma, and align corporate responsibility with business exposure to mental health–related risk.
Send Silence Packing uses a story-sharing format, experiential elements and mixed media to increase mental health awareness, spark conversations and encourage help-seeking. Since its launch in 2008, more than one million people have experienced SSP across more than 350 communities.
According to Active Minds' follow-up analysis, many colleges and universities go on to introduce new education initiatives, expand peer engagement, increase faculty training and launch new Active Minds chapters after hosting the exhibit.
“The continued support from The Hartford allows us to bring Send Silence Packing to more communities nationwide at a time when youth and young adults need connection more than ever,” said Alison Malmon, founder and executive director of Active Minds. “By centering the real stories of young people and meeting them where they are, we’re not only championing a new era of mental health - we’re building a culture where mental health is prioritized, supported, and openly discussed.”
The spring 2026 SSP tour began March 4 in Princeton, Texas, and is scheduled to visit a mix of universities, community colleges, and high schools through April.
Planned stops include Kennesaw State University and Albany State University in Georgia; the University of Nebraska–Lincoln; El Camino College in California; Nazareth University in New York; Hudson County Community College in New Jersey; Bronx Community College in New York; Virginia Commonwealth University and Brooke Point High School in Virginia; and Mansfield High School in Massachusetts.
For benefits professionals, the inclusion of high schools as well as colleges is notable. Many employers are now recruiting very early-career workers whose first experience of education and work has been shaped by the pandemic, social media pressures, and economic uncertainty - all factors that intersect with mental health and resilience.
