The Intersection Of Mental Health And The Workplace | Online Docs

 

Introduction

Mental health problems are common in the workplace, affecting about 20% of workers every year. Mental illness is also a contributing factor to work disability that affects an estimated 1.5 million Canadians annually. The stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems can be a barrier for individuals with these conditions seeking support in the workplace and accessing appropriate treatment services. A coordinated approach is needed to address this issue at both individual and societal levels.

Workplace strategies can reduce the stigma of mental illness at work

While mental health stigma is still a problem, workplace stigma is too. The two often overlap, but they're not the same thing. Workplace stigma refers to how people feel about their own workplace culture and whether they think it's a positive or negative place to work. It can also be measured by asking employees if they'd consider seeking help for mental illness in the office--and if so, how likely they would be to do so.

Workplace strategies can reduce the stigma of mental illness at work by providing education about mental health issues and implementing supportive policies that allow employees who do need treatment time off from their job without fear of losing their position or being stigmatized as "weak."

Strategies that provide support to workers with mental health problems can also benefit workers without these problems

When stigma is present, it can affect the productivity and morale of workers with and without mental health problems. Stigma affects everyone differently, but it often causes people who are experiencing mental health issues to avoid seeking help or hiding their conditions. People who experience stigma may be more likely to leave a job because they don't want their coworkers or managers to know about their condition--and this can have a negative impact on company morale overall.

Examples of workplace strategies that can reduce stigma 

Examples of workplace strategies that can reduce stigma include providing education to increase understanding and awareness, implementing supportive workplace policies, and shifting attitudes through leadership initiatives.

• Providing education to increase understanding and awareness: The more people know about mental health conditions, the less likely they are to discriminate against people with them. To this end, organizations can provide educational programs on specific disorders or general mental health topics such as depression or anxiety. Some companies even offer workshops where employees can learn how their own behaviors may be affecting others in the office--for example, by making them feel uncomfortable at work because they're always late or missing deadlines due to stress from home life.
• Implementing supportive workplace policies: It's important for employers not only to have an open-door policy when it comes time for employees who need help dealing with a mental illness but also to make sure those policies are actually put into practice.
• Shifting attitudes through leadership initiatives: In addition to offering these types of services directly through human resources departments (HR), many large corporations have developed employee assistance programs (EAPs) that provide counseling services not only during times when someone needs support but also between sessions if an employee is feeling overwhelmed by stressors outside work hours.

Addressing stigma in the workplace requires a long-term coordinated commitment by employers, labor organizations, and governments

Addressing stigma in the workplace requires a long-term coordinated commitment by employers, labor organizations, and governments. Stigma is a complex issue that affects everyone: workers with mental illness; their families; employers who may be reluctant to hire those with a history of mental illness; and society as a whole.

In order for change to happen on this front, we need all three groups to work together on this issue in an integrated way—a comprehensive approach.

Workplace strategies to reduce mental illness-related stigma can help those individuals with a recognized mental illness or concern about their mental health to be more open about their circumstances

Stigma is a barrier to people staying at work, returning to work, and seeking help. It's also a barrier to getting the support they need.

Workplace strategies that reduce stigma can help individuals with a recognized mental illness or concern about their mental health be more open about their circumstances in the workplace and, therefore, more likely to receive assistance from managers and colleagues who are equipped with knowledge about what steps might be taken next.

Helping workers with mental health problems to remain at work or return to work from disability leave, these strategies can benefit both employees and employers

Helping workers with mental health problems to remain at work or return to work from disability leave, these strategies can benefit both employees and employers.

• Employers save money by keeping employees at work. The cost of absenteeism is estimated to be between $150 billion and $200 billion per year in the United States alone (U.S. Department of Labor). In addition, there are other costs associated with mental illness, such as increased turnover and reduced productivity when employees are out sick for long periods of time or come back from disability leave without fully recovering from their condition(s). For example, it's estimated that replacing a single employee costs an average of 20 percent more than retaining them (Wright-St Clair & Associates Inc., 2012).
• Employers improve employee productivity when they provide support services such as counseling sessions or educational workshops on wellness topics like stress management techniques; these types of interventions have been shown in studies over many years now--such as one conducted by Wright-St Clair & Associates Inc., 2012--to increase morale among workers while decreasing absenteeism rates among those who need help most urgently: those struggling with chronic conditions like depression or anxiety disorders which may require regular treatment outside normal office hours due to symptoms such as insomnia caused by lack of sleep caused by worrying about getting enough rest each night before starting another day full of stressors associated with working hard all day long.

People have less mental health stigma when they're educated about it and have time to learn other people's stories about it

The more you know about mental health, the better.

There are many reasons why people are reluctant to discuss their own mental health problems or those of others. However, one reason that often comes up is a lack of understanding about what it means to be mentally ill and how best to support those who need help. This can lead people with depression or anxiety to feel isolated and alone in their struggles--and also leave them feeling unable to ask for support from friends or family members who may not understand their condition very well.

Education is essential here: when we learn more about conditions like depression and anxiety (as well as other types), we become more comfortable talking about them with each other because we realize how common these feelings actually are among humans at large!

Conclusion

We need to bring mental health into the workplace and make it a priority. Mental illness is a severe issue, but we can't let that get in the way of taking action. Depression and anxiety are common among Americans today, and they can be treated with therapy or medication. We know that people who are suffering from mental health issues often have difficulty keeping their jobs because they have trouble showing up on time or completing tasks at work due to their illness. This means employers lose valuable employees every day because no one has taken steps toward addressing this problem.