Mental health and the workplace

Workplace mental health issues can touch everyone in an organization, from the President to the newest entry level employee. InfoMedic.com believes the effective management of workplace mental health can best be achieved through a collaborative effort involving an organization’s management and employees.

Our goal is to provide proven effective solutions in the areas of greatest need ─ especially the long-term management of depression ─ a condition more costly to employers than any other physical or mental health condition or injury.

InfoMedic.com's patient education programs are carefully constructed to be easily accessible to everyone. A variety of pedagogical techniques are used to engage participants.

All employee programs are delivered online. This has two advantages. First, employees can absorb material at their own pace, in the privacy of their own home. As well, this is also cost effective as participating employees are not required to take time away from their work.  

InfoMedic.com workplace mental health services include:

For management

• How to set up a stress free workplace
• How to identify workplace mental health issues
• Accommodating employees recovering from a mental health condition
• Dealing with stigma
• How to communicate with employees touched by mental health issues
• Guidelines on dealing with mental health issues without being in violation of the law or union agreements

    For employees

• A patient education program for those suffering from depression and anxiety
• A quiz to determine the likelihood of being clinically depressed
• How to get the best possible medical care for mental health conditions
• Coping with your job during an episode of mental illness
• Personal coaching on how to deal mental health issues at work
• Dealing with stigma
• Supporting a family member during an episode of mental illness
• Long term support for employees touched by mental illnesses
• Guidance in suicide intervention and prevention

The Countering Workplace Depression online self-study patient is designed to be fully compliant with the Best Practices for Employers in dealing with workplace mental health issues. These best practices are as set out by University of Michigan Depression Center for employers who offer appropriate access to outpatient care.

Why workplace mental health represents
a special challenge to employers

• The stigma attached to mental illnesses causes those suffering from depression to be secretive about their condition. They don’t want to disclose their depression to co-workers or supervisors for fear of being deemed unfit for their job or unqualified for future advancement.

• As well, stigma keeps workers from seeking medical help ─ and that’s costly to employers. With the treatments available today ─ virtually anyone can get relief from depression within a few weeks.

• Mental health, like diabetes, is a complicated disorder, and successful patient outcomes are heavily dependent on patients learning how to manage their condition on a day-to-day basis. However, there is no stigma associated with diabetes, and those affected feel at ease taking patient education in a public forum. Not so with depression; 70% of depression cases go untreated.

• The successful management of mental health issues including depression is a long-term process. These are usually episodic conditions and, without constant adherence to treatment regimens, the likelihood of future episodes is likely to be more frequent and more severe. And, it is employers who bear the cost when future episodes occur.

• Those with depression require a high level of care giving. As a result, workers with family members who are depressed are less productive when they are distracted from their job to provide vital support to spouses, children, and parents suffering from depression.

For further information contact:

Steven Makrinos
Phone: 416-732- 4264
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or

Ron Hume
Phone: 416-300-7093
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