Mental health education and training is a broad field that encompasses psychology training, addiction counseling, grief counseling and a number of other specialties. There is often a stigma attached to mental health problems that is not associated with problems with physical health, so many people do not ask for help if they are experiencing a mental health problem.

Providing mental health training to key members of your staff can be helpful with employee retention and overall productivity. This is especially true if your business is stressful or if your employee pool is very large. Consider the following if you are considering mental health training for key employees in your organization.

1. Think about the needs of your organization in relation to mental health.

2. Identify mental health education and training opportunities in your community.

3. Explore mental health online courses.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine your needs for education and training in mental health

According to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the National Institute of Mental Health, employees who have had mental health problems and received effective treatment are as good or better than other employees in terms of attendance, motivation and overall performance. Because mental health issues are so widespread, it is in the best interest of business owners to think about providing counseling education to key staff members in their organization.

I recommend: The World Health Organization offers a free comprehensive booklet that explains various mental health issues and can help you make sense of this comprehensive field. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMSA) offers a booklet full of materials for making your workplace more mental health friendly.

Look into programs at psychology schools and other educational venues

There are many seminars and workshops on different aspects of mental health that will benefit your key employees or mental health consultants. Some are through psychology schools, and others are at state or national organizational meetings.

I recommend: AllPsychologySchools provides links to schools with psychology programs throughout the United States. The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides a wealth of information on various aspects of mental health as well as information about state and national meetings.

Identify mental health online training opportunities

To save time and money, your key employees can also take online mental health courses to increase their ability to identify problems and offer solutions. Many people find online education an excellent way to learn new skills.

I recommend: Athealth.com provides links to many online mental health courses. CME also provides links to mental health courses. Pharmaceutical companies generally sponsor free courses; these can provide valuable information, but may be in favor of a particular product.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Mental health education training is a growing field, and there are many opportunities for your employees to obtain certification in various aspects of mental health, from grief counseling to substance abuse.