No Longer Alone: Ending the Stigma of Mental Health Issues

Abstract

Most people know someone, either directly or indirectly, who has committed suicide. Yet, it’s a topic very few people are comfortable discussing. But, as data suggests, it’s a problem that isn’t going away.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, as 44,965 Americans die by suicide each year. And it costs $69 billion annually.

So, what can employers do to address the issue? Having a strong employee assistance program (EAP) is an important variable to have in place. WorldatWork’s 2017 Inventory of Total Rewards Programs & Practices survey found that 96% of organizations have an EAP in place, which was up from 80% in 2016. In addition, behavioral health programs increased 13% in one year (from 78% to 91%) and stress reduction programs were up from 56% to 65%.

But the buck shouldn’t stop there.