How ReMA Members Can Recognize and Respond to Mental Health Needs in the Workplace

Before becoming ReMA's Senior Director of Safety, Jerry Sjogren was the safety director at EL Harvey and Sons. As he built trust among employees, they began coming to him with major life problems and mental health concerns.

"I listened and tried to do what I could, but I knew we needed outside services to assist our team members," Sjogren said. "So, over time, the company signed on to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). With that tool, I was able to provide the necessary help and resources to our workers and a lot of people ended up using the service once we offered it."

An Employee Assistance Program is a voluntary, work-based program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees with personal and/or work-related problems. EAPs address a broad range of issues affecting mental and emotional well-being, such as alcohol and other substance abuse, stress, grief, family problems, and psychological disorders.

"I strongly recommend that every recycled materials company sign on to an EAP for their employees," Sjogren said. "If there's an employee who seems to be in trouble or is exhibiting behaviors they don't normally do, you can do a wellness check and refer them to an EAP."

Providing employees with a resource like an EAP is not unlike providing them with proper PPE. Mental health becomes a safety issue when it shows up at the job, and therefore it's important to recognize and deal with it early. Small steps like adjusting workload, speaking up, and using available resources can stop problems before they turn into injuries.

"If their head isn't focused on work, then there's a huge potential for an accident to happen on the job," Sjogren said. "Giving employees a way to reach out to someone for help can take the edge off; it's important to encourage an open dialogue where employees feel comfortable speaking to their managers and sharing what's going on."

Sjogren also recommends using resources from a variety of trusted organizations including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Mental Health America (MHA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

"When people came to me with issues, I would tell them what number to call," Sjogren said. "Whenever they were apprehensive, I would make the initial call, do the introduction, and then hand the employee the phone and give them my office so they had a private space to discuss their specific situation with a professional," Sjogren said.

It's also important for employers to extend a hand to their employees in times of need.

"At the end of the day just be human," Sjogren said. "If you know someone who is struggling, ask if they want to talk. Not everyone is comfortable doing that, but we need to care more about people as a society. Give your employees the opportunity to speak up and share how they're feeling whether it's talking to a co-worker, using an EAP, or turning to other available mental health resources."

Photo by Luke Jones on Unsplash.