NEWS RELEASE – May 28, 2026
ARH Earns 2026 Platinum Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) has been awarded the 2026 Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, a national recognition honoring U.S. employers committed to creating mentally healthy workplaces.
ARH has been awarded the Platinum Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health — the highest level awarded — for its dedication to overall employee wellness, mental health, and a supportive workplace culture.
The Bell Seal is issued by Mental Health America, the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health, well-being and prevention. The recognition highlights ARH’s ongoing commitment to supporting the health and well-being of its employees across the communities it serves.
“At ARH, supporting the mental health and well-being of our employees is an essential part of caring for the people who care for our communities,” said Sonya Bergman, ARH Chief People Officer. “This recognition reflects our continued commitment to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported and equipped to do their best work.”
ARH was evaluated on its policies and practices in four key areas: culture, benefits, compliance and wellness programs. These areas reflect the importance of a comprehensive approach to workplace mental health, including supportive resources, employee-centered policies and a culture that recognizes the connection between personal well-being and professional success.
As part of that commitment, ARH offers employees access to a broad range of mental health and wellness resources through a dedicated wellness support program. These resources include confidential counseling and therapy services, employee assistance programs, digital well-being coaching, telehealth behavioral health options, crisis support, and personalized assistance connecting employees with local and organizational resources. By supporting employees through both personal and professional challenges, ARH continues to invest in the overall well-being of the workforce that serves communities across Central Appalachia.
“As a healthcare organization, we understand the unique demands our employees face every day,” Bergman said. “Providing strong support for their mental health and overall well-being is not only the right thing to do—it strengthens our ability to care for our patients and communities.”
Since 2019, Mental Health America has awarded the Bell Seal to hundreds of employers for supporting the mental health of more than 5.1 million employees, based on decades of research identifying best practices in workplace mental health.
As a healthcare system serving communities across Central Appalachia, ARH remains committed to strengthening programs and practices that promote a healthy, respectful and supportive workplace.
To learn more about Mental Health America and the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, visit mhanational.org/bestemployers.
About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system – a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH’s hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.