Mental Health is one aspect of an employees well-being. It important to create a culture and workplace where it's acceptable to talk about our Mental Health and eliminate the Stigma.

1. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
Dr. EllenContente
Heart-Centered Programs

2. LEARNING
POINTS
 Statistics about Mental Illness
 Well-being and Mental Health
 Mental Illness and Associated Stigma
 Common Types of Mental Illness
 General Causes that Contribute
 Depression and Anxiety: Everyday vs. Illness
 Signs and Workplace Behavioral Changes
 Self-Care Strategies
 How to Approach Someone
 Next Steps: Creating a Stigma-Free Culture
.

3. CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE
“Everyone has a story that will break
your heart. And, if you’re really paying
attention, most people have a story
that will bring you to your knees.”
-Brené Brown,
LMSW, Researcher, Best-selling
Author
.

4. STATISTICS
Serious Mental Illness
costs America $193.2 billion in lost
earnings every year.
1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences a
Mental Illness in a given year.
1 in 25 will be have a negative impact
at work and capacity to function.
50% of those suffering Mental Health
illness do not seek help, support, or
treatment.

5. WELL-BEING & MENTAL HEALTH
Social and
Engaged
 Physical and
Emotional

Economically
Comfortable

6. MENTAL ILLNESS DEFINITION
The ADA rule defines "mental
impairment" to include any
mental or psychological
disorder; emotional or mental
illness.
Significant behavior or
pattern of behaviors that are
associated with distress or
impairment in daily
functioning.

7. STIGMA OF
MENTAL
ILLNESS
 Concerned it will adversely affect your
career and promotion opportunities
 Fear of losing job
 Do NOT recognize it as a disease
 Concerned about confidentiality
 Fear insurance won’t cover treatment
 Believe it’s a character flaw or moral failure
 Feel like you’re a burden to everyone
.

8. TYPES OF MENTAL ILLNESS
Depression Anxiety Disorders Bi-Polar Disorder
SAD OCD PTSD

9. CAUSES
Trauma and Stress
Family History
Physical Conditions
Life Circumstances

10. MENTAL HEALTH EXAMPLE: DEPRESSION
Situational Depression/
Sadness: Shorter-term feelings that
can result from life changes or an
event.
Sudden and temporary feelings of
sadness.
Normal human emotion experienced
during stress or sad times.
Linked to a specific trigger and passes with
time.
Clinical Depression: Longer
duration; lasts most of the time for
most days of the week.
Daily pervasive sense of sadness,
impacting self-esteem.
Inability to concentrate and make
decisions that were not a past struggle
(e.g. “what do I say next in a
conversation….my mind is empty”).
Severe cases: Pervasive sense of
hopelessness, recurrent thoughts of death,
suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts or
plans.

11. MENTAL HEALTH EXAMPLE: DEPRESSION
Two colleagues have a disagreement on
Monday.They talk about itWednesday.
Situational Depression/Sadness Response:
•Contacts a different friend to decompress.
•Feels hurt, sad and frustrated by their friend’s reaction; too hurt to talk to their friend on
Tuesday but initiates call to discuss the issue on Wednesday.
•Feelings of hurt and frustration dissipate by Thursday.
Clinical Depression Response:
•Feels friendship is forever destroyed; not worthy of any friendships and disconnects from
friends and family.
•Excessive guilt and places full blame on them self for the disagreement.
•Feelings last for weeks; calls in sick several times.

12. MENTAL HEALTH EXAMPLE: ANXIETY
Everyday Anxiety: Shorter
duration and more
commonly experienced.
Identifiable stressor(s) causing anxiety.
Feelings of being overwhelmed,
nervousness, sweating and butterflies.
Ability to execute tasks while
experiencing anxiety.
Can be positive: Motivates to
accomplish a project; can be a warning
sign when in a dangerous situation.
Anxiety Disorder: Severe,
excessive and interferes
with daily activities.
Cannot identify source of stress;
feelings can last weeks or months.
Racing thoughts; negative rumination.
Difficulty getting through daily tasks.
Physical symptoms: Light-headedness,
sweating, trembling, heart pounding,
nausea, feels like cannot breathe/talk.

13. MENTAL HEALTH BEHAVIORAL EXAMPLE: ANXIETY
John is giving a presentation in front
of a large group of colleagues.
Anxiety Disorder Response:
•Self talk is saying no one is going to like the presentation, will fail and get fired.
•Freezes at the podium, struggles to speak normally and has a trembly voice.
•Experiences a heavy pressure in chest and feels he cannot breathe or talk.
Everyday Anxiety Response:
•Feels he has butterflies in his stomach and is sweating.
•Nervous when speaking but able to give the presentation despite nerves.
•Looks forward to the end to obtain his colleague’s feedback.

14. SIGNS
AND
BEHAVIORAL
CHANGES
 Persistent depressed mood
 Withdrawn and isolative
 Lethargic and unmotivated
 Deterioration of personal hygiene
 Excessive crying
 Abusing drugs and/or alcohol
 Interpersonal problems and/or excessive conflicts
with others
 Bizarre and/or irrational thinking
 Excessive sleeping and/or inability to get out of bed
 Antisocial behavior and acts
 Changes in weight and/or eating habits
 Suicidal thoughts, declarations, and gestures
.

15. RECOGNITIONATWORK
Reduced productivity,
morale, motivation,
interaction,
cooperation
Emotionally
Flat or Agitated
IncreasedAccidents,
absenteeism, tardiness
Change in personal
appearance
Disruptive or
Withdrawn
Poor decision-making/
comprehension

16. Mental illness is a Medical Condition just
like heart disease or diabetes. Treatments
available to help people successfully
mental health conditions.
*American Psychiatric Association (APA)
MENTAL ILLNESS TREATMENT

17. PROVIDING SUPPORT: OPTIONS
Medical
 Medication
Counseling
Workplace
Humanize
Destigmatize
Self-Care
Seek Support
Manage Stress

18. SELF-CARE PRACTICES
 Ask for Help.
 See your health care provider for a medical evaluation.
 Do some Physical Exercise.
 Spend time on activities you enjoy.
 Surround yourself with people who are supportive of you.
 Practice Stress Management strategies
 Be mindful of what you are eating and drinking, it can
impact your mood and overall health.
 Try to avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar and refined carbs.
Good Nutrition is Vital to Good Mental Health!
 Learn coping strategies to minimize triggers
.

19. ICU
The ICU Program is an awareness campaign made especially for the workplace, designed to reduce the
stigma associated with mental health and foster a workplace culture that supports emotional health.
Developed by DuPont’s Employee Assistance Program, the ICU Program was delivered to each of their
70,000 employees worldwide. DuPont has since donated ICU to the Center for Workplace Mental
Health, who now makes it available to employers across all sectors, industries, and sizes, cost-free.
The ICU Program points out that just as people with a physical injury or illness may require help through
an Intensive Care Unit, people with a psychological/emotional injury or illness may also require help from
one another.
“ICU” becomes “I SeeYou.”

20. COMMENTS
TO
AVOID
 “I know how you feel”
 “I’ve been there”
 “Look at what you have to be grateful for”
 “Cheer up”
 “You don’t look depressed”
 “Take a hot bath. It has always worked for me”
Avoid “Should” & “Profound” Statements
 “Maybe you should just take some vitamins”
 “Everything happens for a reason”
 “God never gives you anything you can’t handle”
.

21. APPROPRIATE APPROACHES
“I wish I had the right
words to say.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m here for you if
you’d like to talk.”
“I’ve observed you
seem to be down or
troubled by
something.”
“I think I can
understand how
difficult this must be
for you.”
“We all need help
sometimes and I’d like
to help.”

22. How to Respond or Offer Help
1. Recognize: ICU
2. Ask: “Using Appropriate
3. Listen and avoid diagnosing
4. Connect to Resources
1. HR
2. Mental Health First Aiders
3. Intranet Resources
4. EAP
5. Follow up
RECAP: HOWTO HELP
Professional Resources
• 1.800.273.TALK (8255) National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline or
use its
• Webchat at
suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ch
at.
• Call 9-1-1 (if there is imminent
danger)
• EAP provides confidential
support with a mental health
providers

23. NEXT STEPS
Develop Plan
Build Community
Relationships
Conversations
Educate/Communicate

24. SUMMARY
 Well-being encompasses the Whole Person
 Mental Illness affects 1 in 5
 Common Form of Mental Illness is Depression
 There are many contributing Factors
 Important to Recognize the Signs and Symptoms
 Learn how to Approach Someone
 Develop a Workplace Plan to Support Employees
 Eliminate the Stigma
 Keep Talking About Mental Health
 Utilize your Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
.

25. RESOURCES
 www.nami.org National Association on Mental Illness
 www.mentalhealthamerica.net
 www.afsp.org: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
 www.sprc.org Suicide Prevention Resource Center
 www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
 www.thetrevorproject.org: LGTBQA
 www.translifeline.org: Transgender
 www.helpguide.org: Depression Resources for Teens
 www.engagedhr.com Engaged HR
 www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com
 www.workplacementalhealth.org
 www.stampoutstigma.com
 www.hbr.org Harvard Business Review
 www.optum.com
 http://workplacementalhealth.org/Employer-Resources/ICU

26. CONTACT ME TO
SCHEDULE THIS
WEBINAR FOR YOUR
COMPANY.
Here’s to Good Mental Health!