Bell Seal Application Process
The 2024 Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health application cycle is now closed. Submit an employer information form to receive updates on the 2025 application cycle.
Determine if you're eligible
Employers of all sizes and industries are welcome and encouraged to apply for the Bell Seal certification. Recipients represent over 28 industries - from health care and the public sector to financial services and manufacturing - and organizational sizes, from three to more than 1 million workers, in 35 states. Take a quick survey to see if your workplace qualifies.
An employer actively engaged in any effort - through legislation, regulation, litigation, or other advocacy - to create public policies that weaken the rights of employees living with mental health or substance use conditions or discriminate against persons with mental health or substance use conditions are ineligible to apply for the Bell Seal.
Kickstart your application
MHA strives to provide a simple and clear application process for all employers. Follow these steps to get started:
- Submit an employer information form.
- Receive an email with the link to the online application.
- Complete the online application.
- Receive your results within 30 business days.
Take these optional steps to help better prepare you to apply:
- Review the 2024 application questions to get an idea of what to expect on the application.
- Take a quick survey to see if your organization qualifies.
- Learn how other employers achieved certification in the 2023 outcomes report.
Apply by March 29
Apply by end-of-day March 29, 2024, to be considered for the 2024 Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health application cycle. The application takes approximately one to two hours to complete, depending on the organization's capacity.
Low cost and big impact
The organization's total number of staff, including full-time and part-time workers, determines the application cost and is due at submission via credit card or check payment.
- 1 - 50 workers: $99
- 51 - 1,000 workers: $199
- 1,001+ workers: $299
As a non-profit organization, all revenue generated by the Bell Seal program is returned to MHA programming and Bell Seal program-related expenses, including staff time to review applications and assist applicants through the process.
Confidential and secure
Individual employer responses submitted with the application will be kept confidential and secure on MHA's servers and used only for this application. MHA may use aggregated information in educational or promotional materials, including the annual outcomes publication.
Apply with confidence
MHA is committed to supporting your organization's workplace mental health journey. Feel free to connect with MHA before you apply to prepare your application or learn more about how to support your workers' well-being. In addition, MHA's Workplace Wellness Resource Center features all its workplace mental health initiatives, including workplace research and employers and worker resources.
If an applicant doesn't qualify or wishes to achieve a higher recognition level, MHA and its network of affiliates and collaborators can provide resources to assist the employer in improving their score before the March 29 deadline or for the following application cycle. Curious if your workplace qualifies? Take a quick survey.
Receive your score
All applicants will receive their results by email within 30 business days, including which recognition level – Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum – they qualify for, how they scored in each section – culture, benefits, compliance, and wellness, and how they compare to other employers and recipients. Applicants also receive a recipient checklist with the next steps and additional resources.
Celebrate your certification
Bell Seal recipients will receive a promotion toolkit to announce their certification to employees, clients, customers, and the communities they serve. In addition, recipients, at their discretion, will:
- Have their name or logo included on MHA’s Bell Seal recipient website,
- Be featured on MHA’s social media platform(s), newsletters, annual outcomes publication, and
- Included in any earned and paid media efforts regarding the program (e.g., press releases, interviews, blogs, resources, and advertising).
Recipients have the right to decline participation in promotional activities or publications.
Build momentum with recertification
Bell Seal recipients will be notified by email to renew their certification each January. To renew its Bell Seal certification, an employer must review the prior year’s application and submit changes in the renewal form by the end-of-March deadline (the actual deadline date will be included in the notification email).
Questions? We're happy to help!
MHA is available to assist applicants throughout the process. If you have any questions about the Bell Seal or how to apply, please see the FAQs or contact Taylor Adams at workplace@mhanational.org.
