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Mental Health Mental Health First Aid In the First Aid In the

Workplace Workplace

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Learning Objectives

1. Participants will learn the prevalence, effects and costs of mental health issues in the workplace; 2. Participants will learn some techniques for early identification and appropriate management of mental health issues in the workplace; 3. Participants will learn how companies are taking advantage of Mental Health First Aid in their workplaces.

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Agenda Agenda IntroductionIntroduction TopicsTopics

Mental Health Statistics and Mental Health Mental Health Statistics and Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace, First Aid in the Workplace, Leslie Wilson, M.S., Leslie Wilson, M.S., President/CEO, Wilson Resources, Inc., Certified President/CEO, Wilson Resources, Inc., Certified Mental Health First Aid InstructorMental Health First Aid Instructor

Techniques for Early Identification and Techniques for Early Identification and Management of Mental Health Issues in the Management of Mental Health Issues in the Workplace, Workplace, Pat Wear, M.S., Senior Vice Pat Wear, M.S., Senior Vice President, Wilson Resources, Inc., Certified Mental President, Wilson Resources, Inc., Certified Mental Health First Aid InstructorHealth First Aid Instructor

BlueCross and BlueShield of Florida’s BlueCross and BlueShield of Florida’s Participation in Mental Health First Aid in Participation in Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace, the Workplace, John Wagner, John Wagner, Senior Director, Senior Director, Medicare,Medicare, BlueCross and BlueShield of Florida BlueCross and BlueShield of Florida

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Would you hire these Would you hire these people? people?

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Mental Health Statistics and Mental Health First

Aid in the Workplace

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A mental disorder or mental illness is a diagnosable and treatable illness that: Affects a person’s thinking, emotional state and behavior, which may disrupt the person’s ability to:1. Work2. Carry out daily activities3. Engage in satisfying relationships

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Because disability caused by mental disorders may not be visible to others, people with

mental disorders can be negatively judged as weak, lazy, uncooperative, or not

really ill. This lack of understanding

contributes to the stigma.

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Mental Health Statistics – Mental Health Statistics – Work Loss Data InstituteWork Loss Data Institute

It is estimated that mental It is estimated that mental disorders are costing U.S. disorders are costing U.S. employers $114 billion a year in employers $114 billion a year in lost productivity.lost productivity.

Psychological disability claims Psychological disability claims have increased 300% within the have increased 300% within the last decade.last decade.

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Mental Health Statistics – Mental Health Statistics – National Institute of Mental National Institute of Mental

HealthHealth Mental Disorders are one of the Mental Disorders are one of the

leading causes of disability in leading causes of disability in people ages 15 to 44 years.people ages 15 to 44 years.

90% of employees agree that their 90% of employees agree that their mental health issues spill over into mental health issues spill over into their professional lives directly their professional lives directly impacting their job performance.impacting their job performance.

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Mental Health Statistics – Mental Health Statistics – Wall Street JournalWall Street Journal

Four people in a typical office of Four people in a typical office of 20, 1 out of 5, can be expected 20, 1 out of 5, can be expected to suffer from a mental to suffer from a mental condition this year.condition this year.

Depression alone costs U.S. Depression alone costs U.S. businesses $70 billion a year in businesses $70 billion a year in lost productivity, medical lost productivity, medical outlays and other costs.outlays and other costs.

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Mental Health Statistics Mental Health Statistics

The number one overlooked The number one overlooked health condition impacting the health condition impacting the

corporate bottom line was corporate bottom line was “depression,” according to a “depression,” according to a study conducted by Cornell study conducted by Cornell

University and the University of University and the University of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania.

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Mental Health Statistics Mental Health Statistics

Depression is a treatable Depression is a treatable condition caused by a chemical condition caused by a chemical

imbalance, not a character imbalance, not a character weakness. Untreated depression weakness. Untreated depression

also is the underlying cause also is the underlying cause behind many payments for behind many payments for

digestive disorders, digestive disorders, musculoskeletal & cardiovascular musculoskeletal & cardiovascular

diagnoses.diagnoses.

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Impact On the WorkplaceImpact On the Workplace

Untreated problems result in Untreated problems result in a productivity loss of a productivity loss of

approximately 25% of an approximately 25% of an employee’s salary through employee’s salary through

absenteeism, accidents, absenteeism, accidents, tardiness, use of medical tardiness, use of medical benefits and workman’s benefits and workman’s compensation claims. compensation claims.

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Impact On the WorkplaceImpact On the Workplace Managers often intervene when they Managers often intervene when they

are “fed up” with the employee, are “fed up” with the employee, which often leads to termination.which often leads to termination.

The vast majority of employees The vast majority of employees experiencing a mental health issue experiencing a mental health issue should be viewed as valuable assets should be viewed as valuable assets in need of assistance just as those in need of assistance just as those with physical health issues are with physical health issues are viewed.viewed.

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Impact On the WorkplaceImpact On the Workplace Identifying the need for Identifying the need for

treatment as a result of treatment as a result of performance problems can save performance problems can save time, money and workplace time, money and workplace stress. stress.

People with mental health People with mental health problems are more likely to seek problems are more likely to seek help if someone close to them help if someone close to them suggests it, i.e., a colleague. suggests it, i.e., a colleague.

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Impact On the WorkplaceImpact On the Workplace

The efficacy of treatment for The efficacy of treatment for mental illness and substance mental illness and substance

abuse disorders is well abuse disorders is well documented and has improved documented and has improved dramatically over the past 50 dramatically over the past 50

years. years.

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Impact On the WorkplaceImpact On the Workplace

Mental health conditions Mental health conditions have cure rates equal to have cure rates equal to and greater than many and greater than many

medical medical conditions.conditions.

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Impact On the WorkplaceImpact On the Workplace

For most mental illnesses there is For most mental illnesses there is a range of well-tolerated and a range of well-tolerated and effective treatments. Current effective treatments. Current

research suggests that the most research suggests that the most effective method of treatment effective method of treatment

combines pharmacological combines pharmacological management with psychosocial management with psychosocial

interventions interventions such as psychotherapy.such as psychotherapy.

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Impact On the WorkplaceImpact On the WorkplaceReturn on InvestmentReturn on Investment

Retaining Employees: It is Retaining Employees: It is estimated that it costs 100% of an estimated that it costs 100% of an employee’s first year wages to employee’s first year wages to replace them due to recruiting/ replace them due to recruiting/ training costs and lower training costs and lower productivity. productivity.

Economic Return: Corporate Economic Return: Corporate ““wellwellth” does translate into th” does translate into corporate “wealth.”corporate “wealth.”

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Mental Health First Aid in Mental Health First Aid in the Workplacethe Workplace

Provide additional training Provide additional training to your staff, e.g., Mental to your staff, e.g., Mental

Health First Aid (MHFA), so Health First Aid (MHFA), so they can deal with mental they can deal with mental

health issues in the health issues in the workplace in an informed workplace in an informed

and thoughtful way. and thoughtful way.

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Mental Health First Aid in Mental Health First Aid in the Workplacethe Workplace

A program of the National Council for A program of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, Community Behavioral Healthcare, Mental Health First Aid Mental Health First Aid is the help is the help

offered to an employee developing a offered to an employee developing a mental health problem or mental health problem or

experiencing a mental health crisis. experiencing a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate The first aid is given until appropriate treatment and support are received or treatment and support are received or

until the crisis resolves.until the crisis resolves.

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Mental Health First Aid Action Plan:Mental Health First Aid Action Plan:

ALGEEALGEE is a 5 step action plan is a 5 step action plan encompassing the skills, resources encompassing the skills, resources

and knowledge to assess the and knowledge to assess the situation, select and implement situation, select and implement

appropriate interventions, and help appropriate interventions, and help the individual in crisis connect with the individual in crisis connect with

appropriate professional care.appropriate professional care.

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Mental Health First Aid Mental Health First Aid Action PlanAction Plan ALGEE ALGEE

AAssess for risk of suicide or harmssess for risk of suicide or harm: : As with any first aid action plan, As with any first aid action plan, assessment involves approaching the assessment involves approaching the person to determine if there is a person to determine if there is a problem or a crisis, and assisting the problem or a crisis, and assisting the person in dealing with the crisis.person in dealing with the crisis.

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Mental Health First Aid Action Mental Health First Aid Action Plan: Plan: ALGEEALGEE

LListen non-judgmentally: isten non-judgmentally: Most people Most people who are experiencing distressing who are experiencing distressing emotions and thoughts want an emotions and thoughts want an empathetic listener first, before being empathetic listener first, before being offered helpful options and resources. offered helpful options and resources. Make it easy for your coworker to speak Make it easy for your coworker to speak freely with you.freely with you.

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Mental Health First Aid Action Plan: Mental Health First Aid Action Plan: ALGEEALGEE

GGive reassurance and information: ive reassurance and information: Once Once the individual feels he/she has been heard, it the individual feels he/she has been heard, it becomes easier to offer encouragement and becomes easier to offer encouragement and information. This includes empathizing and information. This includes empathizing and voicing hope, as well as offering practical voicing hope, as well as offering practical help with tasks that may seem overwhelming help with tasks that may seem overwhelming and information on mental health issues.and information on mental health issues.

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Mental Health First Aid Action Mental Health First Aid Action Plan:Plan:

ALGEEALGEE

EEncourage appropriate professional ncourage appropriate professional help: help: Encourage the person to get Encourage the person to get appropriate professional help. Options appropriate professional help. Options include counseling, therapy, medication, include counseling, therapy, medication, support for family members, and other support for family members, and other types of assistance.types of assistance.

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Mental Health First Aid Action Mental Health First Aid Action Plan:Plan:

ALGEEALGEE

EEncourage self-help and other ncourage self-help and other support strategies: support strategies: Peer supporters, Peer supporters, others who have experienced mental others who have experienced mental health problems, can provide valuable health problems, can provide valuable help in the person’s recovery.help in the person’s recovery.

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What Can Employers Do?What Can Employers Do? Educate Staff and Management on Educate Staff and Management on

Behavioral Health/Mental Health Behavioral Health/Mental Health First AidFirst Aid

Develop and/or refine policies Develop and/or refine policies addressing mental health issues in addressing mental health issues in your workplace.your workplace.

Consider contracting or expanding Consider contracting or expanding use of EAP or other behavioral use of EAP or other behavioral health services.health services.

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What Can Employers Do?What Can Employers Do?

Protect Medical Privacy: A Protect Medical Privacy: A recent employee survey found recent employee survey found that many people who needed that many people who needed behavioral health services behavioral health services feared the resulting stigma.feared the resulting stigma.

Access/create a resource guide Access/create a resource guide of local services.of local services.

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BlueCross and BlueShield of BlueCross and BlueShield of FloridaFlorida

Wilson Resources, Inc. is Wilson Resources, Inc. is providing Mental Health First providing Mental Health First Aid Training at Blue Cross and Aid Training at Blue Cross and BlueShield of Florida (BCBSF). BlueShield of Florida (BCBSF).

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BlueCross and BlueShield of BlueCross and BlueShield of FloridaFlorida

The training is funded through a The training is funded through a WRI contract with the Florida WRI contract with the Florida Department of Education, Division Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Other components of the contract Other components of the contract are paid internships and training are paid internships and training for service providers on working for service providers on working with employers.with employers.

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BlueCross and BlueShield of BlueCross and BlueShield of Florida Florida

The objectives of the training are: The objectives of the training are: Increase workplace understanding of Increase workplace understanding of

mental health disorders; mental health disorders; Reduce stigma that keeps employees Reduce stigma that keeps employees

from seeking treatment; and from seeking treatment; and Provide managers and supervisors with Provide managers and supervisors with

tools to appropriately respond. tools to appropriately respond.

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BlueCross and BlueShield BlueCross and BlueShield of Florida of Florida

The overall goal of the The overall goal of the Mental Health First Aid Mental Health First Aid training is a healthier, training is a healthier, more inclusive and more inclusive and productive workplace.productive workplace.

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ResourceResource

An Employer’s Guide to An Employer’s Guide to Behavioral Services, Center for Behavioral Services, Center for Prevention and Health Services, Prevention and Health Services, National Business Group on National Business Group on Health Health http://www.businessgrouphealthttp://www.businessgrouphealth.org/pdfs/fullreport_behavioralh.org/pdfs/fullreport_behavioralhealthservices.pdf healthservices.pdf

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"Most people who suffer from a "Most people who suffer from a mental disorder are not violent; mental disorder are not violent; there is no need to fear them. there is no need to fear them.

Embrace them for who they are: Embrace them for who they are: normal human beings normal human beings

experiencing a difficult time, who experiencing a difficult time, who need your open mind, caring need your open mind, caring

attitude, and helpful support." attitude, and helpful support." Grohol, J. M. (1998). Dispelling the violence myth. Psych Central.

http://psychcentral.com/archives/violence.htm

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Leslie Wilson, M.S. & Pat Wear, M.S.Leslie Wilson, M.S. & Pat Wear, M.S.Wilson Resources, Inc. Wilson Resources, Inc.

Certified Mental Health First Aid InstructorsCertified Mental Health First Aid Instructors

Phone: 941-729-9673Phone: 941-729-9673

Email: lesliew@wilres.com; patw@wilres.com Email: lesliew@wilres.com; patw@wilres.com

Websites: www.wilres.com; www.NationalCTC.com Websites: www.wilres.com; www.NationalCTC.com

John Wagner John Wagner Senior Director, MedicareSenior Director, Medicare

BlueCross and BlueShield of FloridaBlueCross and BlueShield of Florida

Email: john.wagner@bcbsfl.comEmail: john.wagner@bcbsfl.com

Website: www.bcbsfl.comWebsite: www.bcbsfl.com