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Occupational Mental Health​

One-in-five people experience a mental health condition each year, including your coworkers. California workers, especially those working in sales, service, production, and health care, have experienced an increase in mental hea​​​lth issues since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health stigma may prevent employees from seeking the help they need. In fact, more than one-third of employees who reported moderate depression did not access support services.

It is important for employers to acknowledge and prioritize mental health and create a culture that supports well-being. Mental health support in the workplace can positively impact productivity, engagement, communication skills and daily functioning. Employers can help improve mental health by listening to employ​ee feedback, implementing practices that support mental well-being, and encouraging use of services like employee assistance programs.

If you or a colleague are experiencing a mental health crisis and need immediate assistance, please call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

​Use this toolkit to encourage employers and co-workers to support employee mental health. ā€‹

​Additio​​nal Resources​

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English​​​

​6 ways employers can help improve employee mental health
​Listen to employee feedback and empower them to participate in discussions about issues affecting job stress
​Implement new policies or practices that emphasize mental health and mental well-being
​Explain to your employees why it's important to address mental health
​Let employees know about mental health services and resources, including assistance programs and the 988 suicide & crisis lifeline
​Recognize and highlight the importance of sick time for employees
​Recognize and highlight the importance of sick time for employees.
​
​ Suggested Messaging:
It’s important for employers to prioritize mental health and create a culture that supports well-being. Appropriate support can positively impact productivity, engagement, and physical capability.  
Learn more about how to prioritize employee mental health: https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/tools-resources/workplace-health/mental-health/index.html​ 
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #LookAroundLookWithin
​Twitter Messaging:

Supporting mental health in the workplace can positively impact an employee's well-being and performance. Employers can support employee mental well-being by improving workplace culture.

Learn more: ā€‹https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/tools-resources/workplace-health/mental-health/index.html 
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #LookAroundLookWithin ā€‹

​Paid sick leave is a permanent law in California that most workers may qualify for

paid sick leave can be used for recoving from a physical or mental illness or injury, seeking medical diagnosis treatment or preventative care​​

Suggested Messa​​ging:
Most California workers qualify for paid sick leave. Paid sick leave can be used to:
  • ​Recover from physical/mental illness or injury
  • Seek medical diagnosis, treatment, or preventative care
  • Care for a family member who is ill or needs medical diagnosis, treatment, or preventative care

Learn more a​bout worker rights: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/California-Paid-Sick-Leave.html #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

Twitter Messaging:

​​California offers paid sick leave to most workers. Paid sick leave can be used to:
  • Recover from physical/mental illness or injury
  • Seek treatment and care
  • Care for a family member who is ill and needs treatment

Learn more: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/California-Paid-Sick-Leave.html #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth​

​​Mental health issues aren't always obvious
​Actively listen with complete attention to your coworker
​Recognize their feelings and express your understanding back to them
​Encourage them to use the available resources provided by your employer
​Connecting on a personal level may benefit you both
​If a colleague opens up about a serious concern, share the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to get additional support

​Suggested Messaging:

Did you know that one in five people experience a mental health condition each year, including your coworkers? Reach out to a colleague who might need support, including sharing the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. To learn about how you can assist your coworkers, visit https://www.mhanational.org/how-can-we-support-employee-mental-health-concern​ #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

Twitter Messaging:
Did you know that 1 in 5 people experience a mental health condition each year, including your coworkers? By connecting with one another, we can help build a supportive workplace culture that prioritizes well-being. #MentalHealthAwareness #SupportiveWorkplace

Learn more: https://www.mhanational.org/how-can-we-support-employee-mental-health-concern

Break the stigma​​

​Stigma is a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something
​Stigma can create feelings of shame and barriers that prevent people from reaching out for help
​we can break stigma by becoming more aware of mental health conditions symptoms and treatment


​Suggested Messaging:

Let's break the stigma surrounding mental health and work toward​ solutions that reduce feelings of shame, fear, and silence. Get involved by:
  • Learning about mental health conditions, symptoms, warning signs, and treatment
  • Sharing resources that inform people how to reduce stigma
  • Discussing your own mental health experiences and insights

To learn more about reducing stigma surrounding mental health, visit https://namica.org/what-is-mental-illness/reducing-stigma/ #BreakTheStigma #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

Twitter Messagine:
Let's break the stigma surrounding mental health and work towards solutions that reduce feelings of shame, fear, and silence. Get involved by visiting https://namica.org/what-is-mental-illness/reducing-stigma/​ #BreakTheStigma #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth​​​​​​​​

Spanish​​​

​6 ways employers can help improve employee mental health
​Listen to employee feedback and empower them to participate in discussions about issues affecting job stress
​Implement new policies or practices that emphasize mental health and mental well-being
​Explain to your employees why it's important to address mental health
​Let employees know about mental health services and resources, including assistance programs and the 988 suicide & crisis lifeline
​Recognize and highlight the importance of sick time for employees
​Recognize and highlight the importance of sick time for employees.
​
​ Suggested Messaging:
Es importante que los empleadores le den prioridad a la salud mental y creen una cultura que apoye el bienestar. El apoyo apropiado puede tener un impacto positivo en la productividad, participación y capacidad fĆ­sica.  
ObtĆ©n mĆ”s información sobre cómo priorizar la salud mental de los empleados: https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/tools-resources/workplace-health/mental-health/index.html​ 
#MesdeConcientizaciónSobreLaSaludMental #MiraAlrededorMiraAdentro 
Twitter Messaging:
Apoyar la salud mental en el trabajo mejora el bienestar y rendimiento de los empleados y la cultura laboral. 
Lee mĆ”s aquĆ­:  https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/tools-resources/workplace-health/mental-health/index.html​ 
#MesdeConcientizaciónSobreLaSaludMental #MiraAlrededorMiraAdentro

​Paid sick leave is a permanent law in California that most workers may qualify for

paid sick leave can be used for recoving from a physical or mental illness or injury, seeking medical diagnosis treatment or preventative care​​

Suggested Messa​​ging:
La mayorĆ­a de los trabajadores de California califican para licencia pagada por enfermedad. Esta licencia se puede usar para: 
  • Recuperarte de una enfermedad o lesión fĆ­sica o mental 
  • Obtener un diagnóstico mĆ©dico, tratamiento o atención preventiva 
  • Cuidar a un miembro de tu familia que estĆ© enfermo o necesite obtener un diagnóstico mĆ©dico, tratamiento o atención preventiva    

ObtĆ©n mĆ”s información sobre los derechos de los trabajadores:​ https://www.dir.ca.gov​/dlse/California-Paid-Sick-Leave.html #MesdeConcientizaciónSobreLaSaludMental 

Twitter Messaging:
California da licencia paga por enfermedad a los trabajadores, en casos de: 
 Enfermedad o lesión fĆ­sica/mental 
Tratamiento y atención mĆ©dica 
Familiares enfermos 
MĆ”s información https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/California-Paid-Sick-Leave.html   
#MesdeConcientizaciónSobreLaSaludMental ā€‹
​​Mental health issues aren't always obvious
​Actively listen with complete attention to your coworker
​Recognize their feelings and express your understanding back to them
​Encourage them to use the available resources provided by your employer
​Connecting on a personal level may benefit you both
​If a colleague opens up about a serious concern, share the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to get additional support

​Suggested Messaging:

ĀæSabĆ­as que cada aƱo, una de cada cinco personas experimenta una condición de salud mental, incluyendo a tus compaƱeros de trabajo? ComunĆ­cate con un colega que podrĆ­a necesitar apoyo. Comparte la lĆ­nea directa 988 de Crisis y Suicidio. Para saber cómo mejor apoyar a tus compaƱeros de trabajo, visita https://www.mhanational.org/how-can-we-support-employee-mental-health-concern​ #MesdeConcientizaciónSobreLaSaludMental

Twitter Messaging:
Cada aƱo, 1 de cada 5 personas tiene problemas de salud mental, incluyendo a tus colegas. Al conectarnos, creamos una cultura solidaria que prioriza el bienestar. #MesdeConcientizaciónSobreLaSaludMental #LugarDeTrabajoSolidario 

MÔs información:

 https://www.mhanational.org/how-can-we-support-employee-mental-health-concern 


Break the stigma​​

​Stigma is a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something
​Stigma can create feelings of shame and barriers that prevent people from reaching out for help
​we can break stigma by becoming more aware of mental health conditions symptoms and treatment


​Suggested Messaging:

Rompamos el estigma en torno a la salud mental y trabajemos en busca de soluciones que reduzcan los sentimientos de vergüenza, el miedo y el silencio. InvolĆŗcrate:  
  • InformĆ”ndote sobre las condiciones de salud mental, los sĆ­ntomas, las seƱales de advertencia y los tratamientos 
  • Compartiendo recursos informativos sobre cómo reducir el estigma 
  • Hablando sobre tus propias experiencias y tu punto de vista sobre la salud mental 
Para obtener mÔs información sobre cómo reducir el estigma en torno a la salud mental, visita

https://namica.org/what-is-mental-illness/reducing-stigma/ #RompeElEstigma #MesdeConcientizaciónSobreLaSaludMental 

Twitter Messaging:

Rompamos el estigma en torno a la salud mental y trabajemos en busca de soluciones que reduzcan los sentimientos de vergüenza, el miedo y el silencio. InvolĆŗcrate: https://namica.org/what-is-mental-illness/reducing-stigma/​ 

#RompeElEstigma #MesdeConcientizaciónSobreLaSaludMental 


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