Lake Norman Psychiatry | Huntersville

July 16, 2008

Investing in a mentally healthy workforce is good business

Mental illness and substance abuse cost employers an annual $80 to $100 billion and combined are the number one cause of disability in the United States

• according to the Surgeon General, one in five adults (20%) will experience a diagnosable mental illness in any given year

• among those of working age, it is estimated that the prevalence of mental illness and/or substance abuse in any given year approaches 25%

• more workers are absent from work because of stress and anxiety than because of physical illness or injury

• Depression accounts for $36 billion in lost workdays each year. In addition, more than $15 billion in other costs accrue from decreased productivity as a result of symptoms that sap energy, affect work habits and cause problems with concentration, memory and decision-making.

• Stress and depression increase the risk of cardiovascular disease four-fold

Businesses that have been slow to invest in mental health services for employees appear to have three major stumbling blocks:

• misperceptions about the cost-effectiveness of treatment

• lack of information about the direct and indirect costs of mental illness in the workplace

• AND a general wariness about all things related to mental illness

Treatments for mental disorders are highly effective. Advances in medication and psychotherapy produce very good results, especially when therapies are combined.

An overwhelming majority of employees who are treated for depression report that their work performance improves.

Quality in the treatment of mental illnesses including substance use disorders requires early and accurate diagnosis (including detection of other medical illnesses that cause emotional symptoms). Paramount to optimal care is the well-informed choice of medication, active management of dosing and side effects; and/or skilled psychotherapy.

Brochure from Partnership for Workplace Mental Health - A Mentally Healthy Workforce - It's Good for Business

References:

Greenbert, PE, et al; The Economic Burden of Depression in the United States: How did it Change Between 1990 and 2000? Journal of Clinicial Psychiatry, 2003; 64(12): 1465-1475.

APA Partnership for Workplace Mental Health; www.apa.org