Mental Health Awareness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Why is this important to employers? With all of the COVID-19 shutdowns, remote working, and general chaos, don’t business have enough on their plates? This has been anything but ordinary. Forbes Magazine on April 14, 2020 reported that a Qualtrics study yielded the following findings among Americans:

• 67% suffer higher levels of stress
• 57% suffer increased anxiety
• 54% suffer emotional exhaustion
• 53% feel sadness day to day
• 50% feel more irritable
• 42% have had their overall mental health decline

Compound the increases in mental health issues with one in five Americans already suffering a mental health condition and one in twenty-five having their normal life impacted significantly by a mental health condition generally, and we have a significant issue. Mental health issues impact productivity, employee retention, job satisfaction, and countless other work-related issues. Every aspect of business is affected.

What can you do?

AskEarn.org has a mental health toolkit and a vast array of resources. They recommend the 4 – A’s: Awareness, Accommodations, Assistance, and Access. The ADA provides that employers make reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities. Many mental health conditions meet the criteria to qualify for accommodation.

Having a healthy, productive workforce is good for your business, the community and the economy.