StigmaFree Company Initiative
One in five adults experiences a mental health condition each year. This means mental illness stigma affects a significant chunk of the American population, including people in offices and worksites across the nation. Depending on the size of your company, 1 in 5 could represent one person in each department—dozens of human beings on your staff wanting to have a serious conversation about workplace mental health but having zero resources and a whole lot of barriers to do so.
Untreated mental health conditions can have a real impact on the day-to-day workings of a company, both financially and in terms of morale. Symptoms can include: sleep problems, lack of concentration, aches and pains, irritability, low motivation or self-medication. These symptoms can have a negative impact on the workplace.
There are many ways that an organization can support individuals experiencing mental health challenges, yet the biggest obstacle is often getting employees to utilize those supports and services. Eight in ten workers say shame and stigma prevent them from seeking treatment for a mental health condition. In addition, mental illness costs the economy about $200 billion in lost earnings each year.
Businesses everywhere can begin to change this by becoming a StigmaFree Company—a company with a culture of openness, acceptance, and understanding about employees’ overall health and well-being.
NAMI’s StigmaFree Company initiative encourages Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), or business practices that take responsibility for a company’s impact on social well-being. We are challenging all companies in Guadalupe County to step up and do their part in the fight against stigma. Will you accept the challenge?
Contact us to learn how NAMI Guadalupe County can help your organization.