In grade school, we sat through countless lectures on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, learning about the psychologist’s theory on basic human necessities. I was always surprised that love and belonging were the third-most important set of needs on the pyramid, prioritized over self-worth and personal growth. Now having experienced the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, I understand Maslow’s methodology more than ever.

As executives, we are viewed as representatives of our respective companies and mentors for the next generation. While all on different paths, we share a commonality, that we are humans with a need to belong to something, somewhere or to someone. In fact, new research from the Boston University School of Public Health reveals that the elevated depression rate has persisted into 2021, and even worsened, climbing to 32.8%, and affecting one in every three American adults.