Mental illness will cause employees to miss more workdays than any other chronic condition, resulting in an estimated $210.5 billion per year cost to US employers from depression alone. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Now more than ever, there is increasing pressure on employers to prioritize employee mental health.
Depression and anxiety are the most common mental illnesses that can frequently co-occur. Some common risk factors for depression and anxiety include distressing and uncontrollable events and ongoing stress and anxiety. The last 17 months presented constant triggers for these risk factors to get activated.
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Mental health was already a concern for many employers before the pandemic started. The data shows that one in five American adults experience a mental health disorder that impacts them at home and work each year, and that 90% of people who die by suicide had shown symptoms of a mental health condition.
Prioritizing mental health can literally save employee lives, and it's also good for business. Mental illness will cause employees to miss more workdays than any other chronic condition, resulting in an estimated $210.5 billion per year cost to US employers from depression alone.
A common employee mental health strategy that organizations have adopted is investing in programs such as mindfulness apps, encouraging use of vacation days, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), or enhancing their behavioral health coverage. These are all well-intentioned offerings that can be effective yet are often underutilized. If only addressing mental health was as simple as providing employees with more offerings.
What often gets overlooked, and is critical to the success of any mental health initiative, are the barriers that prevent employees from feeling psychologically safe to seek support and engage in the programs provided. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that eight out of ten people suffering from mental illness report feelings of shame, along with the stigma around mental health, that prevents them from seeking treatment. Additionally, employees are three times more likely to discuss their physical health over mental illness at work. Only 14% of 2,000 workers polled said they felt comfortable discussing their mental health worries at work, compared with 42% of workers who felt able to talk about physical conditions.
Mental health first aid: Reducing stigma & increasing awareness
At Exude, one of the ways that we create a stigma-free workplace for our clients and staff is by providing Mental Health First Aid certification and awareness training.
If you saw someone having a heart attack, you'd start CPR or call 911. Mental illness is not always visible. Most employees including managers do not have the training or knowledge to identify the early and worsening signs and symptoms of mental health challenges. For example, a team member who has an emerging pattern of showing up late for meetings, indecisiveness, or the inability to regulate their anger can often be labeled as inconsiderate or a pain to work with.
However, these behaviors can also be signs that this individual is experiencing a mental health challenge and could use more empathy and connection vs. judgment or isolation. If employees and managers have the skills to be better "noticers" and are armed with an action plan to provide support, employees become stakeholders in making mental health and early intervention part of the organizational culture.
Mental Health First Aid teaches employees the skills they need to identify and support those who are developing a mental health challenge and connect them to the appropriate care.
What does the MHFA certification training cover?
- Common signs and symptoms of mental illness
- Common signs and symptoms of substance use
- How to connect the person with help
- How to interact with a person in crisis
Outcomes of the training:
- Reduce mental health stigma in the workplace
- Encourage employees to take responsibility for their mental health
- Empower employees to have respectful and inclusive conversations about mental health that fosters empathy and psychological safety
As the conversations around mental health continue, organizations need to seize this opportunity to roll up their sleeves and implement impactful and meaningful solutions. It's the human thing to do that is also good for the bottom line.
Karla Chin is total well-being director for Exude, as well as a mental health first aid trainer.
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