| an estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and | | | | Take a Stand |
| older — about one in four adults — | | | | This clear message needs to be communicated to |
| suffering from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given | | | | every employee: The organization has a |
| year, mental Illness, either directly or indirectly, affects | | | | nondiscriminatory attitude — it sees mental illness |
| nearly every person in the workplace; but it's still an | | | | as no different from physical illness in terms of how |
| unspoken and neglected reality for most companies. In | | | | people are treated in the workplace. |
| order to improve productivity and create a more | | | | Teach & Train |
| stable, committed workforce, companies need to | | | | Training and information on mental-health facts, myths |
| make efforts to remove the stigma often associated | | | | and stigma should be provided to all super visors. |
| with mental illness and address the needs it creates in | | | | Inform |
| the workplace. | | | | All employees should be told — without having to |
| Consider the following: | | | | ask — about insurance coverage for mental |
| Absenteeism | | | | health care. |
| Mental illness is the leading cause of absenteeism in | | | | Protect |
| the workplace - higher than heart condition, diabetes | | | | Companies should eradicate coverage gaps and lags. |
| and back problems combined. | | | | Mental health coverage often lags behind coverage |
| “Presenteeism” | | | | for physical ailments. Health plans may restrict the |
| Depression is the leading cause of "presenteeism" | | | | number of times an employee can see a mental health |
| where an employee shows up for work but is not | | | | provider, for example. Americans battling depression |
| engaged in their jobs, affecting their productivity. | | | | with limited access to mental health care could face |
| Disability | | | | bills of $18,000 annually to cover health-related |
| Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in | | | | expenses due to their condition, according to the |
| the U.S. and Canada for ages 15-44. | | | | National Alliance on Mental Illness. Those with limited |
| Cost | | | | access were four times as likely to quit their jobs. |
| Untreated mental illness costs the USA $105 billion in | | | | Educate & Eradicate Stigma |
| lost productivity each year, with U.S. employers footing | | | | Business should promote Mental Illness Awareness |
| up to $44 billion of the bill, according to the National | | | | Week in the workplace through lunch and learns, |
| Mental Health Association. | | | | managerial training to spot signs and symptoms, and |
| Threat of Litigation | | | | corporate emails outlining various mental health issues, |
| Federal guidelines issued in 1997 explain how | | | | community mental health resources, and reminders |
| employers can make accommodations for employees | | | | that mental health is just as important as physical |
| with serious mood disorders. Those who don't make | | | | health; and that mental illness is treatable. |
| accommodations could be sued. In 2004, the EEOC | | | | Despite the fact that they are often creative and |
| took in $469,000 in financial settlements for employees | | | | productive employees, people with a mental illnesses |
| who complained that they'd been discriminated against | | | | face the highest degree of stigmatization in the |
| because of depression: 889 cases were filed. By | | | | workplace and the greatest barriers to employment |
| 2005, that amount ballooned to more than $3 million: | | | | opportunities. Mental Illness is not a character flaw; it's a |
| 1,005 cases were filed in that fiscal year. | | | | treatable illness. By becoming more informed about |
| How can a company combat the myths, lift the stigma | | | | mental illness, employers and coworkers can alleviate |
| and address mental health needs in the workplace? | | | | stigma and help an employee diagnosed with a mental |
| Here are five suggestions: | | | | illness to be a healthy, productive part of the team. |