Mental Health in the Workplace

Mental Health in the Workplace Mental Health Disorders and Stress Affect Working-Age Americans Mental health disorders are one of the most serious health problems in the United States. In 2016, 18.3% of US adults aged 18 or older (44.7 million people) said they had a mental illness. Also, 71% of adults said they had at least one sign of stress, like a headache or feeling anxious or overwhelmed. A lot of people with mental health problems also need help with other health problems, like heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illness, and problems with muscles, bones, and joints. 5–8 People with both mental health disorders and other physical conditions cost two to three times more to treat than people without both. 9 The U.S. could save between $37.6 billion and $67.8 billion a year by combining medical and behavioral health care services. About 63% of people in the US work. The workplace can be a great place for adults to do things that will make them feel better. Workplace wellness programs can find people who are at risk and help them get treatment. They can also help people deal with stress and lower it. Employers can save money on health care for both their businesses and their employees by dealing with mental health problems at work. Mental Health Issues Affect Businesses and Their Employees Stress and bad mental health can hurt an employee's:      How well someone does their job and how productive they are. Being involved in one's work. Talking to coworkers. Ability to do things physically and daily. People with mental illnesses like depression are more likely to be disabled and unemployed. About 20% of the time, depression makes it harder for a person to do physical work, and about 35% of the time, it makes it harder for them to think clearly. Only 57% of employees with moderate depression and 40% of those with severe depression get treatment to help with their symptoms. Even when taking into account other health risks like smoking and being overweight, employees who were at high risk of depression had the highest health care costs in the three years after their first health risk assessment. Employers Can PROMOTE Awareness About the Importance of Mental Health and Stress Management Programs that promote health at work have been shown to work, especially when they include both mental and physical health interventions. The workplace is the best place to build a culture of health because:       There are already ways to talk to each other. One central team makes all the programs and policies. There are networks of people who can help each other. Employers can give rewards to encourage healthy behaviors. Employers can use data to keep track of progress and see how things are going. clipart for mental health Employers can do the following things:          Give all employees access to tools that help them assess their own mental health. Provide free or low-cost clinical screenings for depression by a qualified mental health professional, along with feedback and a clinical referral if necessary. Provide health insurance that covers depression medications and mental health counseling with little or no out-of-pocket costs. Offer free or low-cost programs for lifestyle coaching, counseling, or self-management. Give all employees brochures, flyers, and videos about the signs and symptoms of mental illness and how to get help. To help employees deal with stress and anxiety, you could hold seminars or workshops on how to deal with depression and stress, such as mindfulness, breathing exercises, and meditation. These activities can help them focus and stay motivated. Make and keep quiet, private areas for relaxation activities. Train managers to spot the signs and symptoms of stress and depression in their team members and tell them to get help from a qualified mental health professional. Let employees have a say in decisions that affect their job stress. A lot of companies give their workers tools to help them deal with stress and improve their mental health. Prudential Financial - Checks how supervisors affect the health and happiness of workers, especially when supervisors change. - Conducts anonymous surveys on a regular basis to find out how people feel about managers, senior executives, and the company as a whole. - By having senior leaders share personal stories in video messages, it makes it normal to talk about mental health. TiER1 Performance Solutions - As part of its Start the Conversation about Mental Illness awareness campaign, it focuses on six important health problems: depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and addictions. - Offers resources in a variety of formats to help people assess risk, find information, and get help or support. This makes them more visible and involved. For instance, infographics, e-mails, weekly table tents with reflections and challenges, and videos (for learning and telling stories) all give information. Beehive PR - Keeps the "InZone," a quiet room that isn't connected to a wireless internet signal, so employees can recharge. -Through goal-setting, one-on-one coaching, development sessions, and biannual retreats, it offers chances for both personal and professional growth. Tripler Army Medical Center - Requires resiliency training to reduce burnout and increase skills in empathy and compassion for staff members who are in caregiver roles. Training sessions include yoga, role-playing, lectures in a classroom setting, and improvisational comedy to appeal to different ways of learning. Certified Angus Beef - Offers free wellness consultations with a clinical psychologist who is on site. Employees don't have to take time off work to use these services. - Holds lunchtime learning sessions to help employees feel less ashamed about mental health issues and the services they can get. - Offers guided imagery relaxation sessions every three months to teach people how to deal with stress. Texans of Houston - Offers full and integrated health insurance for physical, mental, and behavioral health, as well as 24/7 access to employee assistance program (EAP) services. - Anyone who lives with an employee can use the EAP, and there are special programs for people who are taking care of kids or elderly parents. What Can Be Done? Ways to Handle Stress and Mental Health at Work People who work in health care can: - Inquire about patients' depression or anxiety and suggest screenings, treatments, and services as necessary. - To give patients complete, whole-person care, make sure that clinical psychologists, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, and other allied health professionals are part of the core treatment teams. Researchers in public health can: - Make a "how-to" guide to help people design, run, and evaluate workplace health programs that deal with stress and mental health issues. - Make a mental health scorecard that employers can use to check out their work environment and find places where they need to make changes. - Create a program that rewards employers who show evidence-based improvements in mental health and well-being metrics and measurable business results. - Work with business schools to set up training programs that teach leaders how to build and keep a mentally healthy workforce. Businesses and leaders in the community can: - Through public health departments, parks and recreation agencies, and community centers, you can teach working adults about mental health and how to deal with stress. - Support community programs that lower risks in other ways, such as by making it easier to find affordable housing, places to exercise (like sidewalks and trails), tools to improve financial health, and neighborhoods that are safe and free of tobacco. - Make it easy for workers, employers, and health care providers to find community-based programs (like those at churches and community centers) that help with stress and mental health. The federal and state governments can: - Give organizations and employers the tools and materials they need to teach people how to manage stress and mental health. - Help people take care of their mental health and well-being by giving them classes, advice, and tools for making decisions. - Gather information about the health of workers and do biomedical and preventative research to help with new public health ideas. - Encourage strategies that help people in underserved areas, like using community health workers to help people get mental health and substance abuse prevention services from local groups like churches and community centers. - The CDC's Workplace Health Resource Center (WHRC) is a one-stop shop for businesses of all sizes to find reliable tools, guides, case studies, and other resources to help them plan, build, use, assess, and keep workplace health programs going. Workers can: - If they don't already have them, encourage employers to provide mental health and stress management education and programs that meet their needs and interests. - Take part in programs and activities that your employer offers to learn new skills and get the help you need to feel better mentally. - Be a dedicated wellness champion and take part in training sessions on things like how to plan your finances and how to deal with bad behavior and attitudes at work when it's appropriate. When it's right, share your own experiences with others to help break down stigma. - Be open to how your coworkers feel and what they've been through. Be understanding, offer support to your peers, and tell others to get help. - Do things that help you manage stress and stay mentally healthy. - Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night, eat healthy, well-balanced meals, and work out regularly. - Do things that help you relax and deal with stress, like yoga, meditation, mindfulness, or tai chi. - Make and keep real-life, in-person social connections. - Think about the good things that have happened to you and say thank you and happy things. - Make goals for yourself, your health, and your work, and ask for help when you need it.