Expand Workplace
Mental Health Programs Strategy
J.W. Fisher
J.W. Fisher, president of Fisher Contracting Company and steering team chairperson for the Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Partnership, discusses the unique position employers are in to address mental health. He also discusses the Owner’s Guide to Creating and Implementing a Mental Health Program and the rollout of the iMatter Anti-Stigma Campaign.
Rationale:
Employers are in a unique position to educate and support employee mental health regardless of demographics, environments or experiences. Mental illness costs employers through direct health care costs and indirect costs such as loss of productivity, absenteeism and disability costs. We engage with business groups and employers to support employees and those who are more at-risk for mental illness so individuals can access quality care. To learn more about the Fisher Contracting Company Workplace Mental Health Program, click the following link to download An Owner's Guide to Implementing a Workplace Mental Health Program which was built working with the Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Partnership and by using the APA Working Well Toolkit.
Actions & Purpose:
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Facilitating workplace mental health assessments
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We assist employers to evaluate the effectiveness of their current workplace mental health programs and begin to make proactive changes to support employees.
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A Workplace Mental Health Assessment Tool (reformatted and adapted by the Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Partnership from the APA Working Well Toolkit, June 2016)
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Developing goals and strategies to implement change
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We help employers set goals and strategies including creating tactics for implementation, assigning responsibilities, gathering resources, implementing timelines and reviewing and refining their programs on an annual basis.
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Transforming workplace culture
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We support employers so they can begin transforming their workplace mental health culture by utilizing anti-stigma campaigns and creating an environment where it is ok to ask for help.
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An example Workplace Mental Health Kickoff Presentation from Fisher Contracting
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Implementing workplace mental health trainings
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We work with employers to implement trainings, such as Mental Health First Aid, where participants take a skills-based training course that teaches employees to identify, understand and respond to mental health and substance-use challenges
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Assessing benefits to improve access
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We collaborate with employers to review their current benefits, such as insurance coverage and/or employee assistance programs, and strive to create equitable coverage between mental health and physical health care.
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Review current wellness strategies
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We consult with employers to work with their employees to make proactive changes to their wellness strategies to improve and promote health and well-being.
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Are you interested in learning more?
We are here to help you support your employees
View the Workplace Mental Health and Why It Matters: Virtual Session HERE
Rates for workshops, presentations, consultations and trainings are negotiable. To inquire for more information, please contact Dallas Rau: drau@greatlakesbay.org
If you or someone else has a medical or mental health emergency or requires immediate assistance dial 911.
If you are experiencing a suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, or if you are worried about someone who may need crisis support dial 988.