The importance of mental health

Code of Best Practices
For Workplace Mental Health

Workplace mental health is a vital issue that employers can and must address. There are two reasons for this:

In today’s economy the capacity of employees to think, be creative and have productive relationships is vital to any organization’s performance and success. Financials are a lagging indicator of performance; the leading indicator is people.
Depression and other mental disorders are a leading source of productivity impairment through employee absence and “presenteeism.” Workplaces that recognize and manage depression and eliminate unnecessary anxiety and stress are much more likely to be productive workplaces. Mentally healthy workplaces reduce disability costs and mental pain and increase employee productivity and performance.

Employers who subscribe to this code of best practices will put into effect policies and programs that:

Educate employees and their families about mental illness and the need to eliminate the stigma of mental illness. Depression should be treated like any disease. Rule out depression if performance deteriorates;

Help employees to acquire work-life skills that increase their mental resiliency;

Train managers and supervisors to recognize, manage and assist employees who are experiencing distress from mental illness;

Encourage employees with psychiatric illnesses to seek help – and provide help through EAP providers. Employee assistance programs should be aligned with the employer’s vision, protocols and mental health goals.

Facilitate employees’ return to work after treatment with policies that are thoughtfully tailored to the needs of the individual.