Removing the Stigma of Mental Illness and Substance Abuse
Workplace Wellness Programs are also an effective way to educate workers/parents about substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, depression, mental illness, learning disabilities, and other issues that affect adults, children, and teens. Arming parents, other relatives, and concerned friends with information is a way to prevent problems in the future, for themselves and their children.
Workers may not be comfortable attending Workplace Wellness Programs entitled “Substance Abuse and You” or “Dealing With Depression,” fearing they have “self-identified” just by their presence. However, when much of that same information is billed as “Teens and Substance Abuse” or “Recognizing the Signs of Depression in Teens,” there may be a full house for the presentation.
Once this occurs, the levels of awareness are raised. An employee who is concerned that he or she is actually depressed can attend and gain life-saving information. Using this type of approach in Workplace Wellness Programs goes beyond raising awareness among parents whose children are struggling with personal problems.
Mental health topics are frequently difficult to introduce. There is still some stigma attached to being “mentally ill” or having alcohol problems. A benign way to bring information into the worksite is to use Workplace Wellness Programs and the National Screening Day programs. These are dates that have been set aside each year to increase awareness about various problems. They include:
Alcohol Abuse and Addiction (April)
Anxiety Disorders (during Mental Health Month in May)
Depression (October)
Eating Disorders (February)
There is a wealth of information available web-based that can be made available to your workers at no cost as a component of your Workplace Wellness Programs. All it takes begin this into Workplace Wellness Programs is some type of notification in the form of an e-mail with an introductory statement and some links.
Local mental health clinics, medical schools, and hospitals usually provide free employee health screenings on designated days so that anyone can come in, take a test, and get information and a referral for care if appropriate. You could arrange with a local provider for a block of time for your workers to participate in the screenings, or talk to them about coming into the worksite to provide them.
