Geisinger recognized as 2026 Wellbeing First Champion for supporting health workers’ access to mental healthcare

DANVILLE, Pa. - Geisinger has been recognized as a 2026 Wellbeing First Champion by ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare.

As a Wellbeing First Champion, the healthcare system has verified that its credentials applications are free from intrusive, stigmatizing mental health questions. This means that healthcare workers at Geisinger can seek mental healthcare or treatment for substance abuse without fear of losing their job.

"This recognition reflects Geisinger's ongoing commitment to supporting the mental health and well-being of our workforce," said Tricia Richards-Service, Ph.D., program director of Geisinger's Center for Well-being. "While there's still more work to do, we're proud of this progress and remain focused on building a culture of well-being at work - one that supports the whole person, not just the person who shows up for a shift."

This is the third year Geisinger has been recognized as a Wellbeing First Champion for credentialing. Removing intrusive, stigmatizing mental health and substance use questions was a key step in supporting its health workers' access to care and treatment. However, ongoing, consistent communication is critical for changing the culture in healthcare and ensuring Geisinger health workers know their mental health and well-being is a priority.

"Every health worker is a human being who carries the immense weight of caring for others. For too long, our caregivers have suffered in silence, fearing that seeking the confidential mental healthcare they need would cost them the career they love," said Corey Feist, CEO and Co-Founder of the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, which leads the ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare coalition. Geisinger is breaking that silence by sending a powerful, compassionate message to its workforce that its employees' lives matter as much as their livelihood, and they never have to choose between the two.

Geisinger's Center for Well-being is a multidisciplinary team that supports the mental health and well-being of its employees through confidential individual consultations, team support and a variety of programs, resources and services.

About Geisinger

Geisinger is among the nation's leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in rural and urban communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates $9 billion in annual revenues across more than 130 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses - and Geisinger Health Plan, with 509,000+ enrollees in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 600 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,600 clinical research studies. With 28,000 employees, including 1,900 employed physicians and 5,400 registered nurses, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania's largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $18 billion on the state's economy. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.