Dealing with
Mental Health
on the Front Lines

POLL: Prevalence of Mental Health Issues
 Have you (either personally or in support of someone else) dealt with a
mental health issue before ?

What is a Mental Health Disorder or Illness?
A mental disorder or mental illness is a
diagnosable illness that:
 Affects a person’s thinking, emotional
state, and behavior
 Disrupts the person’s ability to:
 Work
 Carry out daily activities
 Engage in satisfying relationships

Consider the Facts:
 60 percent of Americans with a mental disorder receive no treatment.
 Left untreated mental illness costs the United States a minimum of $105 billion in lost productivity
each year.
 Mental illness is estimated to result in 35 million lost work days each year.
 Almost 50 percent work staff have no training in dealing with workers with a mental illness.
42% 58% 63%

Mental Health and Your Community
 42.5 million American adults are affected by mental illnesses every year
 People living with mental illnesses are 16 times more likely to encounter
a law enforcement officer than they are a medical professional.
 18.5%, (over 8 million), of the adult American population have at least two
diagnoses of mental illnesses. Co-morbidity can occur with any mental illness.
 Despite being the lowest occurring mental illness, schizophrenia and other
psychosis based illnesses affect less than one percent of the population.
“National Report 2016.” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Sep. 7, 2017.

The Profile of Mental Health
Some groups are more likely to report mental
health issues than others:
• Women
• Non-managers
• Non-for-profit sectors
• Unionized employees
Groups that are less likely to report mental
health issues:
• Older adults 65+
• Children less than 12 years of age
• Homeless / Below Poverty Line
• Law Enforcement / First Responders
• Military Personnel

Why Talk about Mental Health?

U.S. Adults with a Mental Disorder
in Any Given Year
Type of Mental Disorder % Adults
Anxiety disorder 18.1 .
Major depressive disorder 6.8 .
Substance use disorder 8.1
Bipolar disorder 2.8 .
Eating disorders 5-10 .
Schizophrenia
0.3 –
0.7 .
Any mental disorder 18.5 .

Why Don’t People Seek Treatment for
Mental Health Issues?
 Stigma
 Many people are not well informed
 People often do not know how to respond
 Denial that a problem exists
 Professional help is not always on hand
 Lack of local resources
 Lack of means to obtain help

Who can be First Responders
for Mental Health?
 Teachers, EMT first responders, and veterans. They’re
neighbors, parents, and friends. Librarians. They’re people in
recovery, and those supporting a family member. They’re
First Ladies and Mayors.
 Anyone who wants to make their community healthier,
happier, and safer for all.

Mental Health Awareness &
Preparedness Matters
 Take the fear and hesitation out of starting
conversations about mental health and substance
use problems by improving understanding and
providing an action plan that teaches people to
safely and responsibly identify and address a
potential mental illness or substance use disorder.
 When more people are equipped with the tools
they need to start a dialogue, more people can
get to the help they may need.

Things to Remember:
 Libraries are safe places.
 Libraries offer a wide array of information and resources to help people.
 People have a right to privacy.
 Allow people to be independent.
 Do not assume you know what is going on.
 Be aware of the wide range of behaviors associated with mental illness.
“Librarians are tour-guides for all knowledge.” – Patrick Ness, author

Association of Specialized and
Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA)
“Information is considered key in the management of mental illnesses and in reducing
the discrimination that is so often associated with it.”
American Library Association, Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies. (2007)

Libraries and Mental Health
 Libraries typically focus on two types of “needs”:
 Service Needs
 The Need for Information
One of the best ways to better serve patrons with mental illness and and fight the
stigma of mental illness is to learn more about mental illness.

Common Signs and Symptoms
 Anxiety
 Sadness
 Guilt
 Irritation
 Depression
 Mood Swings
 Wanting to Cry for No Reason
 Helplessness
 Hopelessness
 Increased or Decreased Appetite
 Headaches
 Loss of Motivation
 Aggression
 States of Mania
 Unexplained Aches and Pains
 Nausea
 Sleeping Too Much or Too Little
 Blunted or Inappropriate Emotional Response

Problem Patrons or Patrons with Disabilities:

Employee Productivity in the Face of Mental Illness

DO EMPLOYERS PROMOTE A
MENTALLY HEALTHY WORKPLACE?

SUPERVISORS/MANAGERS
HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
• 81% of managers feel comfortable
discussing mental health with their
staff members
• The same 81% feel that they could
direct staff to appropriate supports
19

EMPLOYEES DISAGREE
• 29% believe their manager is
knowledgeable about mental health
• 32% would not feel comfortable talking to
their manager about a mental health
issue
• 26% agree that their supervisor is able to
“effectively” manage mental health issues
• 32% feel that their supervisor would not
be helpful if they were to approach them
about a mental health issue
20

Training Received by Front-Line Staff

Recognizing signs and symptoms
Community supports available
Medical factors influencing mental health issues
Strategies for keeping employees functional and
successful in the workplace
Responses to negative reactions
Insight into legal requirements
Handling difficult conversations
Softer skills
Creating an inclusive work environment
ADDITIONAL TRAINING STAFF WOULD LIKE

Next Week:
 Tips, Tricks, and Techniques
 Unique Situations
 Helpful and Harmful Things to Say
 Common Resources
 More Specialized Resources