DOL Launches New Resource to Help Employers Understand Mental Health Issues
The U.S. Department of Labor, in coordination with the Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy and its Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion, has launched a new resource to help employers better understand mental health issues and to provide guidance on how to cultivate a supportive workplace.
The U.S. Department of Labor, in coordination with the its Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and its Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN), has launched a new resource to help employers better understand mental health issues and to provide guidance on how to cultivate a supportive workplace.
The Mental Health Toolkit is an online resource providing background, tools, and resources for employers seeking to offer a mental health-friendly workplace. It presents a framework for fostering a supportive workplace built around the “4 A’s”: Awareness, Accommodations, Assistance, and Access.
- Awareness: Build awareness and a supportive culture
- Accommodations: Provide accommodations to employees
- Assistance: Offer employee assistance
- Access: Ensure access to treatment
"By some estimates, one in five American adults experiences a mental health condition each year and work plays an important role in their wellness," said Jennifer Sheehy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy. "Employers that understand the importance of providing a supportive environment that empowers these employees are doing what's right for their employees and for their businesses."
The toolkit also includes summaries of research on mental health in the workplace, descriptions of mental health initiatives implemented by a variety of companies, and links to ready-to-use resources employers can use to start their own initiatives.