Presented by:

Date:

Beyond Stigma: Understanding Mental Healthin the Workplace

Presented by: Emma Geoghegan

Date: May 10, 2012

EFAP InformationEnglish: 1-800-663-1142

French: 1-866-398-9505

TTY: 1-888-384-1152

Online: www.homewoodhumansolutions.com

Confidential Counselling Available 24/7

• Become familiar with stigma of mental illness

• Learn the facts about mental illness

• Identify symptoms of common mental illnesses

• Learn strategies to help self and others with mental illness

• Be more confident in approaching a colleague at work for whom you have mental health concerns

Objectives

1. Assess how much you know about mental illness

2. Information on common mental illnesses and treatments

3. Strategies for being a supportive coworker/manager

4. Application of mental health strategies to your workplace

Agenda

“The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.”

Joe Ancis

43% of Canadians know a colleague with a

mental illness

66% of employees say they do not have the tools

at work to help with mental illness

51% of employees kept quiet about

their mental illness

THE LAW!

cuckoo

loopy

Head case

mental

nutspsycho

whacko

Nut bar

crazy

Mental illness in the workplaceAll stats are from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and Desjardins Financial Security National Mental Health Week Survey 2007

In some cases however the duration and intensity may interfere seriously with everyday life. This is when it turns into a mental illness.

EVERYONE at some point in their life experiences feelings of isolation, loneliness, emotional distress or disconnection…

…these are normal, short-

term reactions to difficult situations.

Mental Illness 101

• Sharon

Case Study

Measure your

Mental Illness IQ

Quiz

Who is most likely to be affected by mental illness?

A.Victims of a traumatic event

B.School-age children

C.Adults in demanding careers

D.Everyone

Question 1

Question 2

What is the greatest barrier to accessing treatment for mental illness?

A.Lack of skilled professionals

B.Stigma

C.Transportation

D.Failure to recognize symptoms

Question 3

Early intervention and/or medical treatment for a mental illness?

A.May decrease long term disability

B.Is unlikely to make any difference

C.May prevent development of other illnesses

D.A & C

How many Canadians experience an Anxiety Disorder in a given year?

A.1 million

B.100,000

C.3 million

D.750,000

Question 4

Mental illness can be caused by…?

A.Biochemical processes in the brain

B.Lack of sleep

C.Personal weakness

D.Heart disease

Question 5

Early warning signs of a mental illness may include:

A.Significant changes in behaviour or personality

B.Confused thoughts and speech

C.Suspiciousness and withdrawal

D.All of the above

Question 6

Question 7

What can you do to look after your mental health?

A.Ignore the symptoms & hope it goes away

B.Know the signs & symptoms of mental illness

C.Develop more willpower

D.All of the above

Your score

• General information about symptoms of the four most common mental illnesses in Canada.

• Please refer to the resources listed at the end of this presentation for more in-depth information.

Identifying common mental illnesses

•Feeling sad, down, hopeless, or worthless

•Lack of interest

•Fatigue or restlessness

•Trouble concentrating & poor memory

•Sleep disturbance

•Unexplained physical problems

•Weight gain or loss

•Isolating from others

•Anger & irritability

•Thoughts of suicide

8% of adult Canadians will experience a

major depression in

their life

Symptoms of depression

• Alternating high (mania) & low moods (depression)

• Poor judgment & risky behavior

• Increased physical activity

• Inflated self-esteem

• Hopelessness & sadness

• Loss of energy

• Guilt

• Suicidal thoughts

1% prevalence rate in Canada

Mood disorder: Bi polar

• Repeated failure to meet social, occupational or family duties (late or absent, poor performance, neglect of children)

• Uncharacteristic mood or personality swings

• Spending too much, borrowing or stealing money

• Physical signs (agitated or drowsy, blood shot or pinned eyes)

• Odor on clothing

• Drug paraphernalia

Signs of substance abuse

Anxiety symptoms

• Restlessness

• Easily distracted

• Worry

• Feeling on edge

• Difficulty concentrating

• Poor memory

• Irritable or impatient

• Sleep disturbance

• Unexplained physical problems

12.2% prevalence

rate in Canada

If you suspect someone may be suicidal:

• Be direct and ask 

• Be open – it does not increase the risk

• Be non-judgmental

• Take all threats seriously

• Look into community resources

• Tell someone who can help

• Take action if you perceive immediate risk (police, emergency services, hospital)

Suicide

It may be an idea to consider professional consultation if you notice:

Changes in mood and/or behaviour that are troubling and persist beyond two weeks

What to look out for: - Normally vivacious person is withdrawn- Dramatic changes in appearance- Expressed thoughts of helplessness

and worthlessness- Crying without apparent reason- Loss of sleep and/or appetite

Professional consultation

• Listen without rescuing, no “quick fixes”

• Offer to find the person support

• Don’t judge or blame

• Help them remain hopeful

• Celebrate success

• Encourage resilience & self care

Supporting someone in need

• Do… – Familiarize yourself with symptoms of common mental

illnesses– Initiate communication with your coworker about your

concerns– Rehearse beforehand what you are going to say when

you approach your coworker– Be prepared to face defensiveness, anger,

embarrassment by your coworker– Inform HR and Management and enlist their support

when appropriate (i.e., whenever there is a risk involved or when job safety becomes an issue)

– Suggest your coworker uses the EFAP service– Always put job safety first– LOOK AFTER YOURSELF – be aware of your rights as

well as your responsibilities

Strategies for looking after coworkers

• Do not… – Attempt to make your own diagnoses – Take on the counsellor role– Assume someone else will approach this

coworker– Take negative responses personally – often

these are symptomatic of the illness itself– Engage in office gossip– Allow your fear of ‘rocking the boat’ impact on

job safety

Strategies for looking after coworkers

Concerned coworker case study

• Sharon

• Understand: the facts about mental illness• Recognize: the signs and symptoms of

mental illness• Act: employ strategies to help yourself and

co-workers

In Summary…

• Alzheimer Society of Canada: www.alzheimer.ca

• Check-Up From The Neck Up: http://www.checkupfromtheneckup.ca/

• Mental Health Website: www.mymentalhealth.ca

• Canadian Association of Social Workers: www.casw-acts.ca

• Canadian Institute for Health Information: www.cihi.ca

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Neurosciences,Mental Health and Addiction: www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/institutes/inmha

• Canadian Medical Association: www.cma.ca

• Canadian Mental Health Association: www.cmha.ca

• Schizophrenia Society of Canada: www.schizophrenia.ca

Resources and information

Canadian Psychiatric Association: www.cpa-apc.org

Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation: www.cprf.ca

Canadian Psychological Association: www.cpa.ca

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: http://www.camh.net/index.html

The College of Family Physicians of Canada: www.cfpc.ca

Health Canada, Mental Health: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/mental/index_e.html

The Mood Disorders Society of Canada: www.mooddisorderscanada.ca

The National Eating Disorder Information Centre: www.nedic.ca

National Network for Mental Health: www.nnmh.ca

Resources and information, cont’d

EFAP InformationEnglish: 1-800-663-1142

French: 1-866-398-9505

TTY: 1-888-384-1152

Online: www.homewoodhumansolutions.com

Confidential Counselling Available 24/7