Mental health in the workplace: Reducing the stigma and providing support

During Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s important to remember that mental health is an important part of a person’s overall health. In the workplace, when employees prioritize their health and well-being, everyone benefits. Goodwill’s Individual Placement and Support (IPS) team help people facing mental illness and/or substance use disorders find and keep jobs. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.

Goodwill’s award-winning IPS team is sharing their knowledge of how creating a mental health-friendly workplace can build a culture of inclusion and reduce the stigma around mental health.

Q: What support is available for employees and job seekers struggling with their mental health?

A: Goodwill’s IPS service is an evidence-based program that helps individuals find and retain employment. The program takes a person-centered approach and looks to find a good fit each person we support. Employment is an important tool on the road to recovery for people struggling with their mental health, providing purpose and structure.

Q: Why is it important to create awareness and support for employees who are on their journey to mental health recovery?

A: It is so important to view mental health conditions in the same way we view physical health conditions. If there is understanding and awareness of how mental health conditions affect people and how they can be supported, the workforce will be stronger, healthier and happier.

Q: How is Goodwill supporting employees with mental health struggles?

A: Goodwill works with job seekers who wish to improve themselves through employment. The IPS team helps connect those job seekers with employers that will be an ally for their work and recovery.

Q: How can employers be supportive of employees facing mental health challenges?

A: It is important to talk openly about mental health in the workplace because it helps to promote well-being and reduce the stigma, allowing for greater access to mental health resources. It is critical for employers to understand how mental health impacts their employees.

Q: How does stigma affect mental health at work?

A: Mental illness is often stigmatized. This stigmatization can be caused and perpetuated by lack of awareness, knowledge, understanding and conversation. Employers can help end this stigmatization and provide safe and inclusive work environments for employees with mental illness by being trauma-informed. Ways to help employees who are on their journey to mental health recovery feel safe and supported include speaking openly and non-judgmentally about mental health, sharing how to access mental health supports and ways to take care of oneself and their mental health at work, and providing flexibility and accommodations.

Employers interested in learning how to create a mental health friendly workplace and support employees can access Goodwill’s FREE Mental Health Toolkit resources.