Promoting Healthy Employees
and Workplace Wellness:
Embrace the Technology!
Bernie McCann, Ph.D., CEAPWorkplace Mental Health Consultant
Lisa Meck, MPHProgram Manager, WorkplaceResponse
Screening for Mental Health
In 2013, approximately 60 million US adults were
estimated to have a mental health disorder in the
past year, affecting 1 out of every 4 people.1
These disorders are the leading cause of
disability in the US (18.7% of total disability-
adjusted life years) followed by cardiovascular
and circulatory diseases.2
Approximately 80% of persons with depression
reported some level of functional impairment
because of their depression, and 27% reported
serious difficulties in work and home life.3
2
Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders
Lifetime Prevalence – Mental Disorders
www.mentalhealthamerica.net/workplace-wellness
Since 1970, prevalence of stress and related
issues among the workforce have been on the
rise. Mental disorders are the leading cause of
disability in the US for adults aged 15-44. These
conditions tend to strike during the most
productive working years, and are among our
nation's most disabling.4
Approximately 14 million workers (21% of the US
workforce) meet the diagnostic criteria for a
substance use disorder, and 8.4 million of these
also meet the diagnostic criteria for a mental
health disorder.5
4
Prevalence Among the Workforce
Cost to Employers and Workers
Mental health disorders cost employers over $100
billion each year. More days of lost work and
impairment are caused by mental health disorders
than other chronic health conditions, including
arthritis, asthma, back pain, diabetes, hypertension
or heart disease.6
Depression and substance use disorders in
particular have a negative effect on work
productivity, are responsible for significant
absenteeism, presenteeism, and considerably
increase medical visits and costs.7
Current research confirms employers benefit
financially from paying more attention to workforce
mental health needs.8
Mental Health Prevalence > Treatment
6
Current research suggests that 60-80% of
individuals with mental health disorders will
improve with early interventions.8
Yet, 78% of employees experiencing
psychological distress do not receive
adequate treatment for these disorders.9
More education on the symptoms of mental
health disorders combined with greater
access to screening, early detection and
treatment referrals can have a significant
impact on increased positive outcomes.10
Not the Best Strategy…
Our historical approach to providing mental health
interventions has been described by some as
“parking the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff”
Workplace Health Promotion Works
www.mentalhealthamerica.net/workplace-wellness
Wellness for Workplace Mental Health
Worksite health promotion programs are effective adjunct
therapies in preventing and treating mental health conditions
and beneficial contributions to improving workplace
productivity.11,12 For example, physical activity and other
wellness initiatives can:
Improve stamina and strength;
Decrease depression symptoms and help avoid mild
depressive episodes; and
Reduce obesity and risks of cardiovascular disease,
stroke and Type 2 Diabetes.13
Additional worthy wellness activities include encouraging
healthy diets, smoking cessation, promoting cancer and
other health risk assessments, among others.
Status Report: Workplace Wellness
Employers: 87% believe managing worker health to be their role.12
Among larger employers,77% offered some form of
wellness program.13 Fewer smaller employers offer
wellness programing, although in a recent survey 29%
now offered some kind of wellness programs compared
with 16% in 2007.14
Employees:
Only 36% of working Americans say their employer
provides sufficient resources to help manage stress; only
42% say their helps them maintain a healthy lifestyle, and
only 44% enough to meet their mental health needs.
40% of employees want more access to web-based
wellness information, and 35% want personalized health
tips/reminders.15
10
New Focus on Workplace Wellness
The Affordable Care Act
Includes specific provisions for employer-paid
health plans to provide enhanced wellness and
prevention services and employee incentives
within their insurance benefits.
Universal screening and co-location approaches
are becoming more widespread, and experts
predict greater system-level integration of
behavioral and physical healthcare, which
workplace wellness efforts clearly compliment.
10
New Focus = New Technology
12
The internet has become the default source of health
information in our increasingly web-based lives.
83% of adults use web-based search engines
72% have looked online for health information
in the past year.
8 in10 health inquiries start with web search
engines.
19% of adult smartphone users have at least
one health “app”.18
Social Media is here to stay…
Erik’s fascinating #Socialnomics 2014 is one of the most watched
videos on social media today. http://vimeo.com/93302427
http://mentalhealthscreening.org
Available 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Accessible on multiple devices
Scientifically validated screening tools for:
Depression, Alcohol Use Disorder, PTSD,
Bipolar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety
Disorder, Eating Disorders, etc.
Ability to link to EAP for follow-up assistance
Online Mental Health Screening
Behavioral Health “Apps"
15
T2 MoodTracker: Monitors and
tracks users’ self-reported
emotional state over a period of
days, weeks and months.
Features:
Fully customizable categories
Options for reminders for self-rating
Full note adding ability
Provides graphic results
Able to send results to providers
Self-rating on pre-populated categories
EAPs as Workplace Wellness
• Previously, EAPs have focused on
responding to mental health concerns and
substance use disorders, and prevention
efforts have taken a back seat.
• SBIRT and other screening efforts are
becoming “best practices” for EAPs.
• Workplace wellness programming is the
newest opportunity to proactively address the
spectrum of mental health services in the
workplace.16
Using Social Media for EAP Goals
17
Advantages:
Innovative services for the future (which is actually happening right now)
Promoting higher utilization rates
Creating greater perceived value
Improved user data gathering
Two Examples
Emory University &
Healthcare System Faculty
Staff Assistance Program
KGA, Inc. Employee
Assistance Program
Emory University FSAP
• Emory University and Emory Healthcare
located in Atlanta, GA employ over 28,000
individuals in a variety of occupations.
• With its emphasis on providing quality educational
and healthcare services, workplace wellness
programming is an important part of the Emory
work culture.
• Emory’s Faculty Staff Assistance Program, with its
multidisciplinary team equal to 14 FTEs, provides a
full complement of EAP services: health promotion
and wellness; education and outreach; behavioral
mental health; and organizational dynamics.19
Technology for Prevention
• Online self-assessment via Screening for
Mental Health WorkplaceResponsescreening.mentalhealthscreening.org/EMORY
• Take 5 for Wellness stress management
videos http://fsap.emory.edu/Media/take5.html
• Provides ongoing periodic webinars on topics
such as: Fitness, Nutrition, Diabetes
Prevention, and Stress Management
Online Self-assessment
www.mentalhealthscreening.org/screening/EMORY
Take 5 for Wellness
A series of short (5
min. or less) videos
for employees which
educate and portray
healthy approaches
to wellness.
Social Media Outreach
• Emory FSAP promotes mental health wellness via its
Twitter and Facebook pages: https://twitter.com/EmoryFSAP and
https://www.facebook.com/EmoryFSAP
• Special events: In conjunction with the Oct 2014
National Depression Screening Day, staff at Emory
FSAP created Twitter feeds on the topic: https://twitter.com/EmoryFSAP/status/520181964956237824
and a video (via Youtube) entitled:
Understanding Depression and Seeking Support
24
Twitter Feed
Mental Health Promo & Outreach
http://fsapallabouthealth.wordpress.com/category/mental-health/
Facebook Outreach
Top Wellness Apps
My Fitness Pal Run Keeper
Lose It! Map My Walk
Water Your Body Waterlogged
Sparkpeople
KGA, Inc.
29
Founded by Kathleen Greer,1982 Framingham, MA
Mission: Help organizations tocreate and sustain a healthy,engaged and productive workforce
Services:
EAP and Work Life HR Solutions -Training and Wellbeing Services
Focus on regional employersand national delivery of service:
• 106 EAP Clients• Over 300,000 lives• Diversity of clients
Priorities:
• Robust EAP services• Quality of outcomes and user
experience• Case management approach• Crisis response• Stakeholder engagement
KGA, Inc. More Human. More Resources.
Technology for Prevention
Online Client Resource Center: promotional
materials
Live and pre-recorded employee orientations,
work-life webinars, and other wellness topics.
Group chats for employees on topics such as
mindfulness, substance abuse, financial
wellness, eldercare, and more.
Branded KGA site - mentalhealthscreening.org
Promoting use of behavioral health apps
30KGA, Inc. More Human. More Resources.
Online Interactive Tools
Self Assessments for Gaining Awareness
Do You Have a Balanced Lifestyle?
Is He Right for You?/Is She Right for You?
Depression Screening
Lifestyle Stress
How Financially Resilient Are You?
Five Minute HealthCheck™
Are You Overweight?
KGA, Inc. More Human. More Resources.
Technology for Account Management
• Group chats for managers on topics such as
making a referral substance abuse at work, etc.
• Live and pre-recorded manager briefings
• Kathy’s blog – the people side of management
• Account data information and analysis
• Live utilization portal using the Workplace
Outcome Suite* - provides outcome results for
program users (*©Chestnut Global Partners)
32KGA, Inc. More Human. More Resources.
Reaching out to Managers
Kathy Greer's Survival Guide
for Managers
Essential Help for the People Side of Management
KGA, Inc. More Human. More Resources.
34
Branded Mental Health Screening
KGA, Inc. More Human. More Resources.
Results & Referrals
35KGA, Inc. More Human. More Resources.
36
Online Screening Tool: By Numbers
Online Screening Tools: By Type
37
0
50
100
150
200
250Depression
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Alcohol
Eating Disorder
Biploar Disorder
Adolescent Depression
PTSD
Total
Combined Total
May ‘13 – National Mental Health MonthOct ‘13 – National Depression Screening MonthApr ‘14 – National Alcohol Screening DaySep ‘14 – Back to School Blues
Top Behavioral Health Apps
38
Mind Shift
Recovery Record
Optimism
Get Some Headspace
Tactical Breather
Quit Smoking with Andrew Johnson
Eating Disorder Management
MindTools
KGA, Inc. More Human. More Resources.
The Future of Workplace Programs
39
More online and social media content
Interactive and customized resources
• EAP- and site-specific wellness content
• Content targeting via demographics
and user behavior/preferences
Increased integration with Electronic
Health Records
Imagine the Possibilities
40
Today, the opportunity exists to proactively address the entire spectrum of mental health through workplace wellness efforts – and technology is a viable delivery solution.
Online mental health screenings, posting to
social media websites, and interactive mobile
apps are some examples of steps that work
organizations and EAPs have begun to take
in this direction.
So What’s Next..?
Mental Health Screening Kiosks41
Screening for Mental Health
Mission: To provide innovative mental health and
substance abuse resources, linking those in need to
quality treatment options.
Organizational Vision: We envision a world where
mental health is viewed and treated with the same
gravity as physical health.
www.MentalHealthScreening.org
Webinar Sponsor
WorkplaceResponse
43
Early detection and treatment can have a significant impact on the
lives of employees who experience mental health issues.
Employers with effective health and wellness programs have
typically achieved 11% more revenue per employee, delivered
28% higher shareholder returns, and reduced medical costs and
absences per employee. The WorkplaceResponse program
provides an affordable and effective online screening platform for
employees and their family members.
For more information contact:Lisa Meck, MPH
Program Manager, WorkplaceResponse
Telephone: 781.591.5234
References
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2. National Institutes of Health, NIMH. (2013) U.S. Leading Categories of Diseases/Disorders. www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/2_leading_categories_DALY.shtml
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References, continued
10. The President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, Achieving the Promise:
Transforming Mental Health Care in America, 2003. https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA03-3831/SMA03-3831.pdf
11. World Health Organization. (2004) Promoting mental health: Concepts, emerging
evidence and practice: Summary report. Geneva, Switzerland www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/en/promoting_mhh.pdf
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ummary.pdf
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Affairs 29(2):304–11. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20075081
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16. Aon Hewitt. (2011) The consumer health mindset: Views, behaviors, solutions. www.aon.com/attachments/thought- leadership/Consumer_Health_Mindset_Report.pdf
17. American Psychological Association. (2013) 2013 Work and Wellbeing Survey. www.apaexcellence.org/assets/general/2013- work-and-wellbeing-survey-results.pdf
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231748416.html