OPM has issued a memo calling on agency leaders to start a conversation on mental health among their workers, citing a rising incidence of diagnoses and treatment.
It said employees with depression cost employers an estimated $17 to $44 billion in lost productivity, and that 500 million workdays are lost annually due to alcohol abuse.
According to OPM, agency leaders should foster a supportive worksite that: educates workers on the basics of mental health and the signs of distress (including suicide warning signs); decreases concerns associated with seeking help; and, enhances emotional health through social connectedness, resilience, and improved problem-solving skills.
Effective and confidential Employee Assistance Programs can assist in managing individual, family, or workplace stress before a crisis develops, as well as provide support, access to short-term behavioral health services, and referrals for ongoing care, the memo notes. More details and resources here: www.mentalhealth.gov.
