Mental Health Screenings
Some employers assume that stressful working conditions are a necessary evil-that companies must turn up the pressure on workers and set aside health concerns to remain productive and profitable in today's economy. But research findings challenge this belief. Studies show that stressful working conditions are actually associated with increased absenteeism, tardiness, and intentions by workers to quit their jobs-all of which have a negative effect on the bottom line. – NIOSH/Stress at Work
Poor mental health and drug and alcohol addictions affect millions of American workers each year. According to the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health, 21% of the adult US population has a mental health problem each year. Poor mental health, along with drug and alcohol abuse problems causes a monumental toll on American workplaces each year through lost productivity and health care costs.
The National Work Life Program recommends a “more responsive health/mental health
services and human resources responses” as one of six strategies to
minimize mental health costs to employers.
According to NIOSH, the first step in dealing with excessive work stress
(one of the leading causes of mental and physical health problems) is
identifying the problem. The American Psychiatric Association and the
American Psychiatric Foundation have stated that “If early identification
of mental disorders can save money, then screening for mental illness is
one of the most effective tools employers can use to cut costs.”
See
Mental Health Works*
(PDF - 848k) for more information.
Worksites may wish to consider offering validated, reliable mental
health screening tools as part of a comprehensive worksite health
promotion (WHP) program to help employees identify possible mental health
issues that could be followed up by an EAP or other mental health
organization. Many companies offer such screenings in a variety of forms:
web-, telephone-, or paper-based. Each has different advantages, and may
be appropriate for different “audiences” of employees. Traditionally
screenings were conducted in a paper-based or telephone-based setting,
however new technology has led to the rise of web-based screenings.
According to the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA),
“[p]erhaps most compelling is the technology’s round-the clock
availability, which accommodates different work schedules and locations
while offering privacy and confidentiality and may increase access from
those client segments most hesitant about seeking traditional face-to-face
counseling.” Planners of WHP programs should select the method of
screening that is most likely to be accessible and used by their
employees, recognizing that often more than one method may be needed to
fit the needs of all employees. As with any other health screening tool,
care should be taken to ensure confidentiality of any screening results.
In the workplace, depression is a leading cause of absenteeism and
diminished productivity.1 Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
offers an free, on-line
depression screening locator.* For additional information about
depression and local treatment services, contact the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration's National Mental Health Information
Center at (800) 789-2647.
1Greenberg, P.E.; Stiglin, L.E.; Finkelstein, S.N.; et al. The
economic burden of depression. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 54:425-426,
1993.
Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.
* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
Page last updated: May 22, 2007
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
