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In the United States, 44 million adults – about one in five – have been diagnosed with mental illness. It is a growing health challenge that does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, education or career. People with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues often have difficult relationships at home and at work.
According to a new poll by Harris Insights and Analytics for the American Heart Association, much remains to be done to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health. The survey found that 63% of employees diagnosed with a mental health disorder reported not having informed their employer of their diagnosis.
According to the same survey, an overwhelming majority of employees see mental health as a clear priority in the workplace. Nearly 88% of those surveyed said that employers have a responsibility to support the mental health of their employees.
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With more than 157 million adults in the US labor market – the vast majority of them receiving health care through their employer – private sector employers play a vital role in ensuring that employees suffering from mental health problems get the support they need.
Mental and physical health are related. According to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, the annual cost of depression in the United States is estimated at $ 210 billion. About 40% of this cost is spent on treating the disease and 60% on treating diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, such as diabetes and heart disease.
A new report commissioned by the American Heart Association's Executive Directors' Roundtable, entitled "Mental Health: A Workforce Crisis," proposes concrete strategies that employers can implement. and present mental health programs and services among the organizations that are members of the Directors General Roundtable.
Business leaders can encourage employees to have open conversations about mental health issues and create environments that are conducive to treatment when needed. The first step is for employers to recognize and recognize that mental health disorders are much more common than we think. When managers are trained to recognize when people need support, they are better equipped to refer employees to resources and programs that can help.
Once stigma is removed, companies can create supportive cultures to talk about mental health. Progress will be made when mental health care becomes as common as physical care.
Nancy Brown is CEO of the American Heart Association. Alex Gorsky is President and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson. Brian Moynihan is CEO of Bank of America.
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