Hi, everyone! As you know, I rarely bring in guest authors, but today is a happy exception. I’d like to introduce you to Dr. Harshi Dhingra, an MD/pathologist in India. She’s a practicing clinician, as well as a a faculty member in Pathology in a medical school in India, who’s passionate about mental health and wellness and is deeply committed to sharing her insights with audiences around the world. Thanks, Dr. Harshi, for being with us today!
Mental illness is a serious problem in the United States today. Every year, one in five Americans experience mental illness, and only one in three will get the help they need. Those who don’t get the necessary help often turn to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate. Mental illness and substance abuse are not problems that affect only the poor or the homeless. Anyone can experience mental illness, including the people who work for you.
According to the World Health Organization, depression and anxiety cost the economy $1 trillion every year in lost productivity. And for every $1 spent to treat common mental health issues, $4 in increased productivity and improved health is returned to the economy.
Building mental health and self-care into your office culture can benefit your business in a few ways.
- Less employee turnover: A survey conducted in 2019 found that of the 1,500 people who responded, one-third left a job, partially due to their mental health.
- Increased productivity: Research has shown that 86 percent of employees treated for mental illness are as productive as those who don’t suffer from mental illness.
- Fewer sick days: Studies have shown that treatment for depression and other mental illnesses can reduce absenteeism by up to 60 percent.
- Decreased healthcare costs: According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, adults with serious mental illness are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular issues and metabolic disease.
Incorporating mental health care into your office culture results in employees who work harder, increasing your revenue. Below are five great ways to support your employees’ mental health, improving the work environment for everyone.
1: Teach your managers about the impact of mental health on your employees
The first step in adding mental health and self-care to your office culture is starting at the top with the managers. Your managers need to know how your employees’ mental health affects their work performance and the company’s overall performance. Talking to your managers is a good start, but they’ll need training to deal with employees with mental health issues and those who are using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate.
- Make mental health training mandatory for your managers and group leaders.
- Train your managers and leaders so they know what to do if they see signs of emotional stress and substance abuse.
- Make sensitivity training mandatory for all managers and leaders. There’s a stigma attached to mental health and substance abuse. Sensitivity training will help remove that stigma around your workplace, allowing your managers and employees to look at these issues differently.
2: Use communication to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues
If your employees hear others in the office sharing negative views about mental health issues, they’ll probably be worried about getting the help they need. There are ways you can communicate with your managers, leaders, and employees to help everyone feel safer to discuss their mental health issues in the workplace.
- Promote mental health benefits often: Some companies wait until open enrollment periods to mention available mental health benefits. Instead, promote the benefits in monthly newsletters or emails.
- Emotional well-being: When your managers and leaders speak to your employees, make sure they discuss emotional well-being. They should also bring it up when recruiting new employees. Discussing the importance of emotional well-being will create an inclusive culture where your employees don’t need to be afraid to ask for mental health days or other support they may need.
- Hold workshops: Offering workshops can help your employees learn more about mental health, substance abuse, and overcoming these issues.
3: Include mental health coverage in your workplace healthcare plan
If your employees don’t have mental health coverage in their healthcare plan, they’ll have trouble accessing the care they need, creating issues in the workplace. Before adding mental health coverage, you should know a few things to ensure your employees have access to the best mental health care available.
- Note the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act: Enacted in 2008, this act requires mental health conditions and substance abuse to be treated the same way as other health conditions. Familiarizing yourself with the act will help you understand more about the coverage your employees have a right to.
- Avoid phantom mental health coverage: You should avoid any plan that offers “phantom mental health coverage.” These are also called “ghost networks” and are often filled with providers who aren’t accepting new patients.
- Ensure there are in-network mental healthcare providers: Your employees can’t benefit from a mental health plan if they can’t find an in-network provider. It’s best to be sure there are plenty of providers for your employees to choose from.
- Consider health savings accounts (HSA): Offering your employees an HSA account will help offset the out-of-pocket costs that could be keeping your employees from getting the care they need.
4: Establish an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Many companies today are using confidential programs such as an EAP to help employees who are struggling. These work-based intervention programs help employees access help with problems like substance abuse, childcare, legal problems, and more. They benefit employees by letting them get help early before the issue escalates to a full-blown crisis. You’ll need to do more than post a flyer for the Employee Assistance Program in the office or the break room. Sending a monthly email to each employee about how the EAP can help them will get the message out to everyone.
There are a few ways you can encourage your employees to take advantage of the EAP:
- Provide your employees with direct access to mental health professionals either in person or over the phone.
- Ensure your employees know who to see to get access to mental health providers and resources.
- Emphasize to your employees that the care they receive from the EAP will remain confidential and will cost them nothing.
- Offer EAP service to both employees and their families.
5: Promote well-being
Most employees admit that work can be stressful. The stress is worse for some than others. But work stress can cause serious issues for anyone who has a mental health issue or suffers from substance abuse.
If you continue to promote overall well-being at work, your employees will be less likely to struggle when the stress gets overwhelming. There are several ways you can accomplish this.
- Provide as much flexibility as possible in your employees’ schedules.
- Provide a meditation room (or quiet room) in the office.
- Encourage your employees to use their vacation time.
- Develop a process so employees who have taken a leave of absence due to mental health or substance abuse issues feel safe and supported when they return to work.
Any successful business owner will tell you that they would be nothing without their employees. Because employees are such a big part of your success, their mental, emotional, and overall well-being is essential. By building mental health into your workplace culture, your employees will get the help they need without being worried about the stigma. What’s more, they’ll be more productive, increasing your revenue and making your business a success.
Sources
who.int – Mental Health in the Workplace
hbr.org– Research: People Want Their Employers to Talk About Mental Health
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – Mental Health in the Workplace
nami.org – Mental Health By the Numbers
psychiatry.org – Mental Health Parity
sunshinebehavioralhealth.com – 60-Day Addiction Rehab Programs