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Beyond Stigma:
Understanding Mental Health
in the Workplace
Presented by: Emma Geoghegan
Date: May 10, 2012
EFAP Information
English: 1-800-663-1142
French: 1-866-398-9505
TTY:
1-888-384-1152
Online: www.homewoodhumansolutions.com
Confidential Counselling Available 24/7
Objectives
• Become familiar with stigma of mental illness
• Learn the facts about mental illness
• Identify symptoms of common mental illnesses
• Learn strategies to help self and others with
mental illness
• Be more confident in approaching a colleague at
work for whom you have mental health concerns
Agenda
1. Assess how much you know about mental
illness
2. Information on common mental illnesses
and treatments
3. Strategies for being a supportive
coworker/manager
4. Application of mental health strategies to
your workplace
Mental illness in the workplace
All stats are from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and Desjardins Financial Security National Mental Health
Week Survey 2007
cuckoo
psycho
nuts
43% of Canadians know
a colleague with a
mental illness
loopy
66% of employees say
they do not have the tools
at work to help with
mental illness
crazy
51% of employees
kept quiet about
their mental illness
“The only
normal
people are
the ones you
don’t know
very well.”
Joe Ancis
Head case
mental
whacko
Nut bar
THE
LAW
!
Mental Illness 101
EVERYONE at some point in their life
experiences feelings of isolation,
loneliness, emotional distress or
disconnection…
…these are
normal, shortterm reactions to
difficult situations.
In some cases however the
duration and intensity
may interfere seriously
with everyday life. This is
when it turns into a mental
illness.
Case Study
• Sharon
Quiz
Measure your
Mental Illness IQ
Question 1
Who is most likely to be affected by mental
illness?
A. Victims of a traumatic event
B. School-age children
C. Adults in demanding careers
D. Everyone
Question 2
What is the greatest barrier to accessing
treatment for mental illness?
A. Lack of skilled professionals
B. Stigma
C. Transportation
D. Failure to recognize symptoms
Question 3
Early intervention and/or medical treatment for
a mental illness?
A. May decrease long term disability
B. Is unlikely to make any difference
C. May prevent development of other illnesses
D. A & C
Question 4
How many Canadians experience an Anxiety
Disorder in a given year?
A. 1 million
B. 100,000
C. 3 million
D. 750,000
Question 5
Mental illness can be caused by…?
A. Biochemical processes in the brain
B. Lack of sleep
C. Personal weakness
D. Heart disease
Question 6
Early warning signs of a mental illness may
include:
A. Significant changes in behaviour or personality
B. Confused thoughts and speech
C. Suspiciousness and withdrawal
D. All of the above
Question 7
What can you do to look after your mental health?
A. Ignore the symptoms & hope it goes away
B. Know the signs & symptoms of mental illness
C. Develop more willpower
D. All of the above
Your score
Identifying common mental illnesses
• General information about symptoms of the four
most common mental illnesses in Canada.
• Please refer to the resources listed at the end of
this presentation for more in-depth information.
Symptoms of depression
• Feeling sad, down, hopeless, or worthless
• Lack of interest
• Fatigue or restlessness
• Trouble concentrating & poor memory
• Sleep disturbance
• Unexplained physical problems
• Weight gain or loss
• Isolating from others
• Anger & irritability
• Thoughts of suicide
8% of adult
Canadians will
experience a
major
depression in
their life
Mood disorder: Bi polar
•
Alternating high (mania) & low moods (depression)
•
Poor judgment & risky behavior
•
Increased physical activity
•
Inflated self-esteem
•
Hopelessness & sadness
•
Loss of energy
•
Guilt
•
Suicidal thoughts
1% prevalence
rate in Canada
Signs of substance abuse
• Repeated failure to meet social, occupational or
family duties (late or absent, poor performance,
neglect of children)
• Uncharacteristic mood or personality swings
• Spending too much, borrowing or stealing money
• Physical signs (agitated or drowsy, blood shot or
pinned eyes)
• Odor on clothing
• Drug paraphernalia
Anxiety symptoms
• Restlessness
• Easily distracted
• Worry
• Feeling on edge
• Difficulty concentrating
• Poor memory
• Irritable or impatient
• Sleep disturbance
• Unexplained physical problems
12.2%
prevalence
rate in Canada
Suicide
If you suspect someone may be suicidal:
• Be direct and ask
• Be open – it does not increase the risk
• Be non-judgmental
• Take all threats seriously
• Look into community resources
• Tell someone who can help
• Take action if you perceive immediate risk (police, emergency
services, hospital)
Professional consultation
It may be an idea to consider professional
consultation if you notice:
Changes in mood and/or behaviour that are
troubling and persist beyond two weeks
What to look out for:
- Normally vivacious person is withdrawn
- Dramatic changes in appearance
- Expressed thoughts of helplessness
and worthlessness
- Crying without apparent reason
- Loss of sleep and/or appetite
Supporting someone in need
•
Listen without rescuing, no “quick fixes”
•
Offer to find the person support
•
Don’t judge or blame
•
Help them remain hopeful
•
Celebrate success
•
Encourage resilience & self care
Strategies for looking after coworkers
• Do…
– Familiarize yourself with symptoms of common
mental illnesses
– Initiate communication with your coworker about your
concerns
– Rehearse beforehand what you are going to say
when you approach your coworker
– Be prepared to face defensiveness, anger,
embarrassment by your coworker
– Inform HR and Management and enlist their support
when appropriate (i.e., whenever there is a risk
involved or when job safety becomes an issue)
– Suggest your coworker uses the EFAP service
– Always put job safety first
– LOOK AFTER YOURSELF – be aware of your rights
as well as your responsibilities
Strategies for looking after coworkers
• Do not…
– Attempt to make your own diagnoses
– Take on the counsellor role
– Assume someone else will approach this
coworker
– Take negative responses personally – often
these are symptomatic of the illness itself
– Engage in office gossip
– Allow your fear of ‘rocking the boat’ impact on
job safety
Concerned coworker case study
• Sharon
In Summary…
• Understand: the facts about mental illness
• Recognize: the signs and symptoms of
mental illness
• Act: employ strategies to help yourself and
co-workers
Resources and information
• Alzheimer Society of Canada: www.alzheimer.ca
• Check-Up From The Neck Up: http://www.checkupfromtheneckup.ca/
• Mental Health Website: www.mymentalhealth.ca
• Canadian Association of Social Workers: www.casw-acts.ca
• Canadian Institute for Health Information: www.cihi.ca
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Neurosciences,
Mental Health and Addiction: www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/institutes/inmha
• Canadian Medical Association: www.cma.ca
• Canadian Mental Health Association: www.cmha.ca
• Schizophrenia Society of Canada: www.schizophrenia.ca
Resources and information, cont’d
Canadian Psychiatric Association: www.cpa-apc.org
Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation: www.cprf.ca
Canadian Psychological Association: www.cpa.ca
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: http://www.camh.net/index.html
The College of Family Physicians of Canada: www.cfpc.ca
Health Canada, Mental Health: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hlvs/mental/index_e.html
The Mood Disorders Society of Canada: www.mooddisorderscanada.ca
The National Eating Disorder Information Centre: www.nedic.ca
National Network for Mental Health: www.nnmh.ca
EFAP Information
English: 1-800-663-1142
French: 1-866-398-9505
TTY:
1-888-384-1152
Online: www.homewoodhumansolutions.com
Confidential Counselling Available 24/7