With rates of depression, anxiety, stress and burnout skyrocketing in the last few years, it’s no secret that mental health can take a toll on the workplace, affecting everything from productivity to accident risk and more. However, employers can help alleviate these issues in their companies — whether it’s reducing stressful situations on the job or connecting workers to mental health resources — and there’s no better time to take action than during Mental Health Awareness Month this May.
According to the CDC, depression alone is estimated to cause 200 million lost workdays each year, costing employers between $17 and $44 billion annually. In any given three-month period, employees with depression tend to miss an average of 4.8 workdays and suffer 11.5 days of reduced productivity. What’s more, a huge chunk of the American population — nearly one of every 10 people — reports experiencing some form of depressive episode each year, with roughly 53 million U.S. adults diagnosed with some form of mental illness.
It’s important for employers to remember, though, that while mental health is just as important as physical health, far more people lack access to mental health care services — or avoid seeking treatment altogether due to the various stigmas surrounding mental health. But, with proper care and treatment management plans, a vast majority of those who experience these often debilitating symptoms report improvement, both at home and on the job. (For more information on how to help an employee that may be struggling with mental health, click here.)
Mercy Occupational Medicine understands the need for accessible, affordable mental healthcare in Western North Carolina, which is why we are pleased to now offer mental health services through our Mercy Mindful program.
Mercy Mindful can provide your employees with the care they need to manage their mental health, including psychiatric evaluations and medication management for depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, PTSD, eating disorders and substance abuse. We also provide trauma-informed care and referrals for specialized testing, if appropriate.
Mercy Mindful appointments are available to patients 16 and older by request or referral at our West Asheville location. To learn more about how Mercy Mindful can help your company, contact Jon Medin at jmedin@mercyurgentcare.org or call 828.252.3443.
