ASHEVILLE, NC – Vaya Health is proud to announce that it has been awarded a 2026 Gold Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, the nation’s top recognition for U.S. employers committed to creating mentally healthy workplaces. The Bell Seal is issued by Mental Health America, the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health and well-being of all people living in the U.S.
“Supporting mental health in the workplace isn’t a box to check, it is an intentional investment our biggest asset, our people,” said Danielle Wittekind, Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer. “Vaya is steadfast in our commitment to organizational health and creating culture and workplace that priorities individual wellbeing. I am incredibly grateful to our staff and teams who continue to shape our workplace where people feel supported, respected, and able to do their best work.”
Vaya Health was evaluated on its policies and practices in four areas: culture, benefits, compliance, and whole-health wellness programs. Outside of a robust employee benefits offering, with specific programs and benefits to support mental health, Vaya prioritizes employee wellbeing, empowers supportive people leaders, upholds fair personnel procedures, and promotes professional development building a healthier, more resilient workforce. Following Hurricane Helene, Vaya created a weekly series entitled “Mindfulness Mondays” led by Vaya’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Richard Zenn, where employees meet virtually to pause, reflect, and explore resources for resilience. Due to the success and overwhelming positive response to this series, Mindfulness Mondays continues today creating a space for employees to learn mindfulness techniques and prioritize their mental health.
Vaya Health is committed to providing the best for its employees and looks forward to continuing work to ensure they uphold the standards the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health set forth.
Since 2019, Mental Health America has awarded the Bell Seal to hundreds of employers for supporting the mental health of 5.1 million employees combined, following decades of research into best practices in workplace mental health.
Learn more about MHA and the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health at mhanational.org/bestemployers.
About Vaya Health
Vaya Health is a specialty managed care organization and local government agency that oversees publicly funded health care services across a 32-county region of North Carolina for people with significant behavioral health needs, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries. Vaya manages Medicaid, federal, state, and local funding to meet member and community needs while advancing whole-person health. Together with members, contracted providers, and local partners, we’re moving forward to a healthier North Carolina. Vaya Health can be found online at vayahealth.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/VayaHealth/, on X (formerly known as Twitter) @VayaHealth, on Instagram at instagram.com/vaya.health, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/vaya-health.
