National Safety Council - Mental Health at Work

June is National Safety month.  Mental health is very important, especially after experiencing covid-19 in 2020. Digital employment replaced in-person employment.  Spending a year away from personal contact, decreased in-person communication and a new home work environment, are only a few issues affecting our mental health.  Returning back to work can be just as stressing.

"Mental distress has long been a hidden issue in the workplace. Employees are often unaware of the resources – if any – available to help them, while employers may be unaware of the effects mental distress has on safety and their bottom lines.

The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has brought this issue to the forefront for many employers. Over 40% of Americans report experiencing increases in mental distress due to the pandemic, and over 85% say that work impacts their mental health. Employers are now recognizing the effects of employee mental distress, including increased absenteeism, negative impacts on productivity and profits, and an increase in health care costs.

NSC encourages business leaders to take action to support their workers. We stand ready to partner with you to prioritize mental health, with a robust offering of materials, consulting services and additional resources to help keep employees safe at nsc.org/MentalHealth. 
NSC Recommendations for Employers
NSC recognizes addressing mental distress in the workplace takes the whole organization, including leadership, human resources, supervisors and managers, safety professionals, and of course, employees themselves. Key actions to take include:

• Understanding how workplace conditions and culture can impact employee mental health and, in some cases, create or enhance employee mental distress
• Ensuring leaders, managers and supervisors prioritize employee mental health and wellbeing, work to prevent mental distress, and support employees experiencing mental distress
• Ensuring human resources develops robust, compassionate, and clear policies, programs, and procedures to prevent mental distress and support employees experiencing mental distress
• Providing employee education and increasing awareness on mental wellbeing and distress, as well as awareness of workplace resources, supports and policies" (NSC 2020)

https://www.nsc.org/workplace/safety-topics/employee-mental-health