Overcoming the Stigma
By Elaine Boltz, CEAP, CLL, eboltz@lifemanagement.cc

Do your employees feel comfortable seeking help when needed?  Many individuals don't hesitate to seek help for physical ailments but are more reluctant to access treatment for mental health and substance abuse.  Even with increasing focus on wellness initiatives in the workplace, the stigma of accessing treatment for mental health issues is still prevalent.  Many employees are concerned about the chance of losing their jobs due to the uncertain economy and they may fear that using mental health benefits will make them even more vulnerable to job loss.  They are much more likely to seek treatment for diabetes or heart disease than for depression, anxiety, alcohol or drug use.

Employees with untreated mental health and substance abuse issues have a negative impact in the workplace in the form of decreased attendance, lack of focus on the job, co-worker conflict and decreased productivity - all impacting the organization's bottom line.

Employers can encourage employees to seek treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues when needed.  Here are some ways:

• Providing an Employee Assistance Program is a way to make employees aware that help is available.  Promoting the EAP as a free, confidential resource for troubled employees encourages early access to treatment.  An EAP eliminates barriers of cost and the employer's approach reduces stigma.  Be sure that employees are aware of how to access the EAP.  Try keeping promotional materials available where employees can discreetly access them, such as restrooms.
• Making the connection between physical and mental health helps to eliminate the stigma of seeking mental health treatment.  Relationship issues, stress, grief and loss are issues that most people experience at some time in their life, so promoting treatment for these and other mental health issues can be part of an organization's wellness initiative.
• Make the mind-body connection through activities such as wellness programs and health fairs that focus on both physical and mental health.  For health plans offering mental health or substance abuse benefits, the new mental-health parity act taking effect this year puts these issues on equal ground with medical surgical coverage.
• Promoting a consistent company culture that recognizes that everyone is human sends the message that helping employees stay physically and mentally healthy is important to the organization.

Removing the stigma of treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues is good for the employees, their families, the organization and just makes good business sense.

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Elaine Boltz, B.A., is the Employee Assistance Services Account Executive at Life Management Associates.