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Mental Health in the Workplace: Breaking the Stigma

November 25th, 2024

Bruce Morton, Senior Loss Control Consultant at Marsh McLennan Agency, joined our November Risk Control Webinar to discuss how reducing the stigma of mental health in the workplace can lead to a more supportive work environment.

According to the Mental Health First Aid Manual, mental health is a continuum, with individuals experiencing varying states throughout their lives. Individuals can vary along this continuum at different points in their lives. Good mental health enables positive interactions, emotional control, and effective performance across personal and professional domains.  

Mental Health Challenges

In his presentation, Morton shared several stats to showcase the mental health challenges people may encounter in the workplace:

  • 3 in 4 employees have struggled with at least one issue that has affected their mental health – including stress at work.
  • 1 in 5 adults are living with a mental health disorder.
  • 11 years is the average delay between symptom onset and treatment for mental health challenges.
  • 43% of adults with mental illness get treatment in a given year.

Recognizing Signs of Struggle

Morton advised that employers and colleagues should watch for indicators of mental health issues like:

Behavioral Signs

  • Withdrawing from social interactions
  • Consistent tardiness or commitment cancellations
  • Increased absenteeism
  • Erratic behavior

Emotional and Cognitive Signs

  • Loss of enjoyment in activities
  • Persistent sadness or hopelessness
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Increased self-blame

Supporting Mental Health

Morton encouraged attendees to become mental health advocates. He also advised everyone to understand the effects of mental health disorders and recommended several strategies for creating a supportive environment:

Communication Approach

  • Eliminate offensive terminology
  • Demonstrate genuine care
  • Practice active listening
  • Avoid trivializing feelings

Conversation Starters

  • “I’ve noticed you seem different lately. How are you?”
  • “How have you been managing since [recent event]?”
  • “I’ve noticed you’ve been quieter than usual in our meetings; tell me more about how work is going for you.”
  • Acknowledge observable changes compassionately.

Practical Support Strategies

  • Listen without judgment
  • Provide hope and reassurance
  • Encourage professional help
  • Respect individual boundaries

Self-Care Recommendations

Morton believes that self-care plays a significant role in good mental health. He advised everyone to do the following:

  • Recognize personal limitations
  • Prioritize sleep
  • Maintain physical activity
  • Practice stress management techniques

Additional Resources

Creating a supportive workplace requires active commitment, empathy, and continuous education about mental health challenges and resources. Morton recommended the resources below for further education on mental health:

About the Webinar

This presentation was part of Captive Resources’ Risk Control Webinar Series — regular installments of webinars to educate the group captive members we work with on topics like workplace safety, organizational leadership, and company performance. The thoughts and opinions expressed in these webinars are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect Captive Resources’ positions on any of the above topics.

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