Mental Health in the Workplace

Transcription

1 Mental Health in the Workplace Life s brighter under the sun

2 Mental Health in the Workplace Mental illness can have a significant impact on employers in terms of loss of productivity, absenteeism, presenteeism, disability and medical costs. Cost estimates of the impact of mental health issues in the workplace are widely talked about 500,000 Canadians unable to work in any given week due to mental health issues 1, one in five Canadians struggling with mental health issues in any given year 2, and the annual $51 billion cost to the Canadian economy 3 to name a few. Today, over 500,000 Canadians missed work due to mental health issues Government of Canada: The Human Face of Mental Health and Mental Illness in Canada, 2006 It is when you start to think of how these figures translate to your organization, and the potential impact on your business, that they can become a major cause for concern, and it s clear that action needs to be taken. Much in the same way as we see the benefits of promoting physical health in the workplace, offering supports for mental health issues can mean better outcomes for all concerned. It doesn t mean changing the DNA of your organization, but is rather a process that enhances your existing organizational culture by bringing an understanding of mental health issues into the workplace. Sun Life can help. We have the right team of experts and the resources, products and services to help you manage mental health issues in your workplace. We can help protect your organization and employees from the impact mental health issues can have. Knowing how to take the right action can be challenging. We can make it easier, with programs and resources that: Train front-line managers to recognize mental health issues Help improve mental health literacy and reduce stigma Provide solutions for building a mentally healthy workplace culture Help get employees who are frequently absent or on disability back to health and work faster and more effectively

3 In good hands We have a team of experts assembled to offer a wide range of support from helping you improve mental health literacy to connecting your plan members returning to work with the rights supports in their local area. Director of Workplace Mental Health. Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier, RPsych Marie-Hélène is our resident mental health expert. She is an experienced senior manager and expert in workplace mental health, has an MBA and a PhD and is a registered psychologist. She is responsible for developing and building our mental health strategy and leading the teams as they build the best supports for our plan sponsors and plan members. You can meet Dr. Pelletier on: sunlife.ca/mentalhealth Health Management Consultants Our Health Management Consultants play a critical role in helping plan members back to health and work readiness. They work with plan members, plan sponsors, and the plan member s health care team to provide high quality rehabilitation services and design effective return to work plans. Health Management Consultants bring expertise from a variety of backgrounds including nursing, occupational therapy, social work and kinesiology. The economic burden of mental illness in Canada is estimated at $51 billion per year. Dewa et al (2008). A New Population-Based Measure of the Burden of Mental Illness in Canada

4 In good hands Abilities Case Managers The Abilities Case Manager helps plan members through their claim and recovery. They confirm the appropriateness of the treatment plan and monitor the plan member s progress. They are trained to work with a motivational approach, guiding employees towards actively engaging in behaviour change where necessary. They determine plan member needs and engage additional resources including: Health Management Consultants to access services including psycho-vocational evaluations, cognitive behavioural therapy, and workplace facilitation and mediation services. Meeting with the plan member and/or manager face-to-face to discuss mutual needs for a successful return to work. Organizational Health Consultants Sun Life s Organizational Health Consultants can help you with absence issues that impact your organization s productivity. They provide consultative services and strategies that can help you build a culture of positive focus on mental health. Sun Life OHC services can help with: Risk analysis and analyzing absence data Navigation through the new National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace Organizational effectiveness, policy and best practice reviews Health and Wellness Consultants Our Health and Wellness Consultants can work with employers to build, implement and evaluate prevention strategies in response to the organization s data analysis and overall business objectives. They provide expertise to help: Target key mental and physical health risks and employee needs through screening and health promotion programs Improve employee engagement and presenteeism Implement comprehensive wellness strategies that target critical business needs

5 At Sun Life, we look at organizational and employee health across the whole health continuum, from offering supports for those healthy at work, to help for those off or returning to work. Healthy at work At risk Off work/ return to work How we can help Health Risk Assessment Navigating the National Standard in Psychological Health and Safety Sun Life RightDirections Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Employee Training and Engagement This on-line questionnaire is an overall wellness assessment with sections specific to mental health. It gives you aggregated results for stress and depression and an overall picture of the state of mental health in your work force. Better Balance Challenge This on-line initiative educates employees about bringing balance back into their lives and building resilience. It s a team challenge with activities that focus on behaviours benefiting the three pillars of health: mind, body and spirit. Our consultants use the Standard to help you build a measurable psychological health and safety framework tailored to your organization. This can be the cornerstone of building a psychologically healthy workplace. Mental Health Training for Managers Mental health education to help your managers identify potential issues, communicate effectively, help build a healthy environment, identify and address stigma and understand the components of a safe return to work program. Online, webinar and face-to-face delivery options available. This EAP can offer the support people may need to resolve personal challenges before they become overwhelming and begin to limit the ability to focus at work. It offers support for a range of issues including stress and relationship problems. The services it provides can allow employees to focus on work by taking away a stressor or helping them navigate a difficult situation. RightDirections also offers crisis counseling. Homewood Disability Treatment Program (HDTP) The HDTP helps tackle mental health and addiction related disability absences and claims with a targeted approach focused on returning an employee to work. Used on a case-by-case basis, the program offers both in- and out-patient care. Managing Stress Training These in-depth on-line modules help employees recognize stress, risk factors and symptoms. They explore coping strategies and help participants build SMART goals for success. This training is a key part of building a resilient work force. Turning Stress Into Strength Training This one hour lesson defines stress and examines its consequences. At the end, employees will build a five part personal resiliency program.

6 Resources We have a wide range of supports available on our mental health web pages: Hear inspiring stories of living with mental health issues from former NHL player Stéphane Richer and his wife Leisa, sports broadcaster Michael Landsberg and the Thompson family. Read more about how Sun Life can help you and your plan members. Find out about our connections to some of the leading voices in mental health in Canada. Links to the best mental health information on the web. Over 1/4 of Canadian workers report experiencing chronic work stress. Dewa, C.S, et al. Psychiatric Services 58 (5): , 2007 Keep up with the latest on Dr. Pelletier s page. sunlife.ca/mentalhealth

7 Contact your Sun Life Group Benefits Representative to find out more. sunlife.ca/mentalhealth Life s brighter under the sun 1 Calculated from data in Dewa, Chau, and Dermer (2010), Examining the Comparative Incidence and Costs of Physical and Mental Health-Related Disabilities in an Employed Population, and Statistics Canada employment data 2 Smetanin et al. (2011). The life and economic impact of major mental illnesses in Canada: Dewa et al (2008). A New Population-Based Measure of the Burden of Mental Illness in Canada Group Benefits are offered by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies. GB10160-E sk-bb