Mental Health & Wellbeing

A recent WHO-led study estimates that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy ONE TRILLION each year in lost productivity. Employers must do better at helping employees who battle mental health issues by breaking down barriers and offering support. This toolkit provides education, ideas and resources for employers and human resource professionals.

There is a public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. Disconnection fundamentally affects our mental, physical, and societal health. In fact, loneliness and isolation increase the risk for individuals to develop mental health challenges in their lives, and lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking daily.

he Surgeon General’s Advisory on Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation – PDF lays out a framework for a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection, which has never been implemented before in the United States. It details recommendations that individuals, governments, workplaces, health systems, and community organizations can take to increase connection in their lives, communities, and across the country and improve their health.

Calculators

The following employer calculators are provided by the Center for Workplace Mental Health:

  • Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Find out how depression affects your workforce. CLICK HERE
  • Alcohol is the most widely used drug in the country. Learn how it affects productivity. CLICK HERE
  • Approximately 15% of Americans 12 years or older have used illegal drugs in the past year and approximately 6 million have used prescription pain medications non-medically. Discover how substance abuse affects the workforce. CLICK HERE
What Employers Can Do

The following suggestions were provided by the CDC:

Workplace health promotion programs have proven to be successful, especially when they combine mental and physical health interventions.

The workplace is an optimal setting to create a culture of health because:

  • Communication structures are already in place.
  • Programs and policies come from one central team.
  • Social support networks are available.
  • Employers can offer incentives to reinforce healthy behaviors.
  • Employers can use data to track progress and measure the effects.

Action steps employers can take include:

  • Make mental health self-assessment tools available to all employees.
  • Offer free or subsidized clinical screenings for depression from a qualified mental health professional, followed by directed feedback and clinical referral when appropriate.
  • Offer health insurance with no or low out-of-pocket costs for depression medications and mental health counseling.
  • Provide free or subsidized lifestyle coaching, counseling, or self-management programs.
  • Distribute materials, such as brochures, fliers, and videos, to all employees about the signs and symptoms of poor mental health and opportunities for treatment.
  • Host seminars or workshops that address depression and stress management techniques, like mindfulness, breathing exercises, and meditation, to help employees reduce anxiety and stress and improve focus and motivation.
  • Create and maintain dedicated, quiet spaces for relaxation activities.
  • Provide managers with training to help them recognize the signs and symptoms of stress and depression in team members and encourage them to seek help from qualified mental health professionals.
  • Give employees opportunities to participate in decisions about issues that affect job stress.

The Workplace Mental Health Crisis (and How Employers Can Address It) – CLICK HERE to read.

Mental Health Assessment Tools

Employers and employees can take advantage of free screening tools from the Anxiety and Depression Association of American. CLICK HERE to access the screenings.

Take a Mental Health Test through the Mental Health America website. CLICK HERE

Additional Resources