ARTICLE
One in five adults (43.8 million people) will experience a mental illness in any given year. The consequences of living with a mental illness or substance use disorder affect all areas of a person’s life, including work. And that affects every employer’s bottom line: Serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year. However, more than half of people who need mental health treatment do not receive it. In addition to stigma, a major deterrent to treatment is a lack of understanding and support from employers. For example, a survey by Mental Health America found that more than three-quarters of respondents are afraid of getting punished for taking a day off to attend to their mental health. Investing in a mentally healthy workforce is good for business, says the Center for Workplace Mental Health. It estimates that 80 percent of employees treated for mental illness report improved productivity and satisfaction. Lower healthcare costs, decreased absenteeism, and reduced disability costs also result when employees feel it’s safe to seek the mental health care they need thanks to awareness and a supportive culture. Clients of My Benefit Advisor, available to members of the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce as a solution for employee benefits, also have access to ThinkHR at no additional cost. ThinkHR provides a variety of resources and tools to answer your questions and provide expert advice regarding creating a mental-health friendly workplace and many other topics surrounding Human Resources. For more information or If you with any questions, visit MBA online at cbcc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Jim Pitts at (610) 537-1377.
One in five adults (43.8 million people) will experience a mental illness in any given year. The consequences of living with a mental illness or substance use disorder affect all areas of a person’s life, including work. And that affects every employer’s bottom line: Serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year.
However, more than half of people who need mental health treatment do not receive it. In addition to stigma, a major deterrent to treatment is a lack of understanding and support from employers. For example, a survey by Mental Health America found that more than three-quarters of respondents are afraid of getting punished for taking a day off to attend to their mental health.
Investing in a mentally healthy workforce is good for business, says the Center for Workplace Mental Health. It estimates that 80 percent of employees treated for mental illness report improved productivity and satisfaction. Lower healthcare costs, decreased absenteeism, and reduced disability costs also result when employees feel it’s safe to seek the mental health care they need thanks to awareness and a supportive culture.
Clients of My Benefit Advisor, available to members of the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce as a solution for employee benefits, also have access to ThinkHR at no additional cost. ThinkHR provides a variety of resources and tools to answer your questions and provide expert advice regarding creating a mental-health friendly workplace and many other topics surrounding Human Resources. For more information or If you with any questions, visit MBA online at cbcc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Jim Pitts at (610) 537-1377.