Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Mental Health in the Workplace: HR's Role in Promoting Environments of
Acceptance and Productivity
Joni Dolce, MS, CRC, CPRPAssistant Professor
Rutgers School of Health ProfessionsDepartment of Psychiatric
Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Moving from this...
Rutgers School of Health Professions
To this!
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Objectives
Identify mental health conditions in the workplace and understand their consequences.
Describe strategies and the resources to accommodate and support employees' mental health and wellness.
Recognize the benefits to businesses that promote mental health-friendly practices.
Rutgers School of Health Professions
In one word, what comes to mind when you hear mental illness?• POLL question---if there is a polling option to have audience responses to create a
word cloud, please use this feature.
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Mental Illness: A Primer
The Gestalt Project: Stop the Stigma
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel/organization does not claim any right over them.
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Facts about Mental Illnesses
46.6 million adults1
changes in thinking, mood, or
behavior.
depression anxiety PTSD
bipolar disorder
1. Any Mental Illness (AMI) Among Adults. (n.d.). Retrieved June 15, 2019, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml#part_154785
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Consequences of Mental Health Problems
Absenteeism
Work performance
Employee attitudes and behaviors
Relationships at workWHO: Mental Health in the Workplace, May 2019 at https://www.who.int/mental_health/in_the_workplace/en/
Rutgers School of Health Professions
You might see…
Rutgers School of Health Professions
The good news is…
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Mental illnesses are treatable!
Treatments, medications,
and other strategies are
available.
People with mental illnesses
recover and lead
productive careers.
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Vermont Longitudinal Study
• 83% of the study participants had not been in the hospital for the past year
• 72% displayed slight or no symptoms• 76% had close friends• 47% were employed • 76% led a full to moderate life
30 years after being in the
most confined areas of a
state hospital:
Rutgers School of Health Professions
What can HR professionals do?
Rutgers School of Health Professions Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Workplaces that Thrive: A resource for Creating Mental Health-Friendly Work Environments. SAMHSA Pub. No. P040478M. Rockville, MD: Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Working: Wellness
Rutgers School of Health Professions
NAMI: Stigma Free
https://nami.org/stigmafreeco/resources
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Workplace wellness apps…here’s one I’m using.
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Working: Distress
Morale
Support
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Reasonable Accommodations• Handling Stress
– Allow phone calls/texts to support person
– Allow employee to take shorter more frequent breaks
Job Accommodation Network https://askjan.org/info-by-role.cfm#for-employers
• Memory Deficits– Provide written
instructions– Allow additional training
time– Provide written
checklistsJob Accommodation Network Publications: Accommodation Examples for People with Psychiatric Disabilities
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Reasonable Accommodations • Maintaining concentrating
– Reduce distractions– Allow for use of white noise
or environmental sound machines
– Divide larger assignments into smaller tasks and goals
– Allow employee to play soothing music
• Maintaining stamina– Flexible scheduling– Allow longer or more
frequent breaks– Provide additional time to
learn new responsibilities– Allow time off for
counseling
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Sick Leave or Disability
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Staying in touch
Return to Work
• Maintaining communication
• Ongoing planning
• Respecting employee’s wishes
Rutgers School of Health Professions
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO HR PROFESSIONALS?
Rutgers School of Health Professions
$17-44 billion
4.3 million
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Benefits to BusinessesPolling questions here.Open ended poll • What do you think the
benefits of mental health friendly work environments are?
• What is one thing you can do in the next month to create a more mental health friendly workplace?
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Summary
Mental health problems and their consequences in the workplace
Five stages of a mental health friendly workplace
Benefits to businesses who create mental health friendly workplaces
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Mental Health Resources• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
www.nami.org• National Mental Health Association
www.nmha.org• US Dept. of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administrationwww.samhsa.gov
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
• Job Accommodation Network at 1-800-526-7234https://askjan.org/info-by-role.cfm#for-employers
Rutgers School of Health Professions
ReferencesAny Mental Illness (AMI) Among Adults. (n.d.). Retrieved June 15, 2019, from
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml#part_154785
Harding, C.M., Brooks, G.W., Asolaga, T.S., & Breier, A. (1987). The Vermont longitudinal study of persons with severe mental illness. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 718-726.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Workplaces that Thrive: A resource for Creating Mental Health-Friendly Work Environments. SAMHSA Pub. No. P040478M. Rockville, MD: Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2004
WHO: Mental Health in the Workplace. (May 2019). Retrieved June 15, 2019, from https://www.who.int/mental_health/in_the_workplace/en/
Wood, A.E., Prins, A., Bush, N.E., et al. (2017). Reduction of burnout in mental health care providers using the Provider Resilience mobile application. Community Mental Health J 53: 452-459. doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0076-5
Rutgers School of Health Professions
Contact InformationJoni Dolce, MS, CRC, CPRPAssistant ProfessorDepartment of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions Integrated Employment Institute School of Health ProfessionsRutgers, The State University of New Jersey200 College Dr., Jefferson Hall, Room 210, Blackwood, NJ 08012 Phone: 856-566-2772
Email: [email protected]
Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions