NH Business supports employee mental health as awareness grows

Fidelity Investments expands its in-house offering of free therapist sessions.

Manufacturer Hypertherm has been enrolled in the Employee Assistance Program Triple.

Riverbend Community Mental Health also launched a “peer discussion group” via Zoom for employees to share concerns with external clinicians.

Many employers in New Hampshire are adding or adding existing mental health services to deal with increased stress and isolation while employees work remotely or in reconfigured offices during the coronavirus pandemic. advertised.

A changed world has placed more emphasis on mental health in the workplace.

“The reality is that COVID is having a serious impact on people’s mental health,” said Susan Stearns, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-New Hampshire.

Stearns called the pandemic a “collective social traumatic event.”

“One thing that quarantine has really strengthened is that we’re social creatures,” says Stearns. “There’s a lot of social interaction at work, right?”

The pandemic has changed the way employees complete tasks and interact with each other.

A Gallup poll last summer found that nearly one in five U.S. workers rated their mental health as fair or poor and was out of work more often.

“When projected over a 12-month period, workers with moderate or poor mental health are estimated to have nearly 12 days of unscheduled absence per year, compared with 2.5 days for all other workers. ‘ said Gallup.

Lost jobs cost the US economy an estimated $47.6 billion in lost productivity annually.

Four in 10 workers in the United States reported that their job had a very negative (7%) or moderately negative (33%) impact on their mental health, Gallup said.

At Riverbend Community Mental Health in Concord, management has rented massage chairs several times for its 400 employees to take breaks.

Jaime Corwin, Vice President of Human Resources, said: “It was so well received that he wants to do it twice a year.”

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No age group is immune to mental health problems

Workplace-related mental health issues are not confined to any one generation.

Sandy Demarest has seen older workers feeling anxious, stressed and scared during the pandemic.

Demarest, mid-career hire and retirement coach at Demarest Directions in Milford, said:

“On the flip side, loneliness and loneliness are at an all-time high for people later in life,” she said. .”

Some employers have difficulty finding the right balance of making workers feel safe, healthy and engaged at work, she said.

Some older workers have changed direction.

“Many of my clients are retiring early and there is a renewed focus on entrepreneurial options,” says Demarest. “While there can be risks, they believe there is also a risk in staying with companies that do not address the above challenges. As people live longer and work longer, employers and employees Evaluation by both members is critical to building the best path.”

Young workers also suffer from loneliness.

Even before the pandemic, 21% of Granite State youth said they had no friends or family nearby, according to data from Stay Work Play, an organization that works to attract and retain young New Hampshire residents. and lonely.” Group Executive Director Will Stewart said:

“As working from home became more prevalent, that feeling of loneliness and isolation only seemed to increase during the pandemic,” Stewart said.

However, younger residents seem to be more open to seeking professional help.

“We certainly hear young workers talking more about mental health in recent years. There also seems to be less prejudice about asking for ,” says Stewart.

“More and more employers are recognizing the mental health needs of their employees, but most are still trying to figure out how best to support those needs,” Stewart said. I’m here.

“Not many employers have established support systems within the workplace,” said Stewart, who has heard people struggle to get appointments for mental health services. “I think younger employees tend to discuss their issues with their peers in person or on social media, but this kind of peer support diminishes with age.”

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Increased need for counseling and mental health days

Advocates urge more people to seek professional help.

NAMI’s Stearns recently said, “It’s going to put a lot of strain on the system as more people seek treatment.

“The reality is that before COVID we had a mental health crisis, and it’s only gotten worse,” Stearns said. “Because there was a labor shortage before COVID. COVID made it worse.”

Corwin of Riverbend acknowledged this problem.

“There’s definitely a wait list for mental health services statewide, but I think there’s a lot of variables in waiting times, so I couldn’t really say what the average would be.

“We are seeing more and more employers specifically[saying]that they can use paid time off as mental health days,” Stearns said.

Employers can reassure employees who need time off due to stress or anxiety.

It “helps break down the stigma,” she said.

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Stearns said more and more employers are providing training to her organization on how to treat employees, who “think employers have a role to play in addressing mental health issues.” said.

Fidelity Investments, which employs more than 7,000 New Hampshire-based workers as of October, has set aside two “quiet rooms” to reflect on its Merrimack campus, said spokesman Steven. Mr Austin said.

Some workers are also eligible to work with wellness coaches for free.

The financial services company has also added walking trails and a bike-sharing program.

“Fidelity recognizes that the mental health landscape has evolved significantly over the past few years, and as such, we continue to focus on evolving products to ensure we provide the best possible support for our employees and their loved ones. Fidelity’s Benefits Officer, said in an email.

Concerns are growing at all levels, from the federal government to local businesses

Workers’ mental health was a big enough issue for the federal government to issue a report.

The US Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being says the pandemic has changed the nature of work and how workers relate to it.

“The pandemic has also triggered reckoning among many workers who no longer feel that sacrificing their health, family and community for work is an acceptable trade-off,” the report said. “Organizations are increasingly realizing another trade-off: When employee mental health suffers, so does productivity, creativity and retention in the workplace.”

Stress can increase your risk of diabetes and other chronic health conditions. Chronic stress is also linked to an increased risk of developing diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, obesity, cancer and autoimmune diseases, according to the report.

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It suggests greater employee autonomy related to how work is done, increased access to paid leave, provision of a living wage, and building a culture of appreciation and recognition.

With 1,100 employees in the Upper Valley and 1,900 worldwide, Hypertherm tripled the number of employees using its employee assistance program from 2019 to 2021. This program provides free, confidential mental health treatment over the phone to employees and their families. As access to other resources to solve other problems.

“This may be due to increased need, or it may be due to increased awareness and acceptance of access to support resources for issues such as depression, anxiety and substance use disorders.” said Jim Rowe, senior director of HR. Hypertherm’s Center of Excellence.

“The fact that people are seeking treatment and services is positive, and we are pleased that we have built strong partnerships with benefit partners and community organizations that deliver these important services,” said Lowe. says.

The best way to help a suicidal person

Psychotherapist Stacey Friedenthal knows about people with suicidal thoughts.

When she was in her 20s, she attempted suicide twice about 30 years ago.

“My heart was in a really bad place,” Friedenthal said in a video interview from Colorado, where she lives.

Today, Freedenthal is nationally recognized for its expertise in helping people struggling with mental health and suicidal thoughts.

“I think it gave me insight and empathy into a suicidal experience that I wouldn’t have had (otherwise),” Friedenthal said.

She is the author of a new book that will be published this month.

“One of its main messages is the ability to listen without having to immediately confide in someone’s feelings, or immediately cheer them up or change their minds,” says Freedenthal.

“We know that people with suicidal thoughts are more likely to confide in friends and family than to talk to a mental health professional,” Friedenthal said.

“Some people disagree with me on this, but I don’t think you should call the police unless it’s absolutely necessary,” she said.

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“I think it can do more harm. Or, unless you’ve already done something like, say, overdosed on the pill, I would recommend unless it’s really urgent, and I think the conversation is important because it’s dangerous.”

Freedenthal, the mother of a young adult son, said she was worried about today’s youth.

“Their life is much more difficult than it was when I was younger and I’m still suicidal.”