Mental health toolkit launched for Indiana workplaces
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The Wellness Council of Indiana (WCI) has debuted a workplace culture toolkit it says will better support a healthy work environment and prioritize mental health.
The toolkit guides employers on steps to reduce stigma related to mental illnesses and substance use disorders through language adjustments, greater understanding and recovery-friendly policies.
“In a workplace culture where mental illnesses or substance use disorder isn’t stigmatized, employees are more likely to be aware of available resources, enter treatment sooner and begin recovery earlier,” WCI Executive Director Jennifer Pferrer said in a news release. “When you accomplish that, it can foster employee loyalty and retention as well as enhance awareness and acceptance.”
WCI said companies who lack such support are more likely to see absenteeism, loss of productivity, safety issues and poor job performance. Pferrer said employers who invest even $1 on mental health can see a $4 return.
“We want to see more and more companies become stigma-free – to be an employer that promotes a culture of openness, acceptance and understanding about employees’ overall health and well-being,” Pferrer said.
The toolkit is available here.