Mental Health in the Workplace

Promote mental health and productivity in the workplace by noticing employees' needs
By Shalleen Mayes Depression in the workplace is a costly disease to employers and employees alike. But it can be difficult to identify, as a stigma still surrounds the disease. Employees may be afraid to seek out help due to deeply ingrained biases toward the mentally ill.
 

Identifying problems with workplace mental health can serve your employees in several ways. Employees can miss fewer days, and be more productive when they are at work. Identifying depression in the workplace can also help improve employees' overall health. By taking an active role in improving employees' mental health, your company can be more successful.

When evaluating mental health in the workplace, consider the following ideas:

1. How is workplace morale? Do you have a culture that encourages wellness and stress management in the workplace?
2. Do you have supports in place to promote mental health in the workplace?
3. What is your overall impression of employee stress? Do you have someone on staff who can handle employees' concerns with confidentiality?
   

Encourage stress management in the workplace

Workplace mental health can be put on the back burner as employees may feel pressure to work long hours to fulfill their job requirements. By shining the spotlight on potential mental health problems, you will send a positive message to your employees-if they need the help, you can help them find it.
Try: The Partnership for Workplace Mental Health is a program designed by the American Psychiatric Association to provide educational materials for employers on mental health in the workplace. Mental Health America is a nonprofit dedicated to improving the mental health of all Americans.

Promote health and wellness in the workplace to benefit employees

Stress in the workplace can snowball, leading to poor mental health and resulting physical problems. Depression can make a person more susceptible to illness and a risk for self-injury. Other possible mental health problems in the workplace include being a workaholic, substance abuse or eating disorders.
Try: All Mental Health is a government-funded program through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), providing tool kits, posters and brochures to employers. The Mental Health in the Workplace website gives employers the tools to effectively manage mental health issues in the workplace.

Join the national conversation to reduce depression in the workplace

Health and wellness in the workplace should be a top priority for employers. But if no one is talking about it, the problem will remain unsolved. By helping to remove the stigma of workplace depression or workplace anxiety, employees will feel empowered to get help for their problems.
Try: Workplace Blues is a website that discusses health care and business mental health. The Carter Center website addresses many aspects of anxiety and stress in the workplace.

• Make sure that as a business owner you model mental wellness in the workplace, handling problems in a calm manner and treating employees with respect.