Mental Health Issues in the Workplace

1
Mental Health Issuesin the Workplace

• IPMA-HR
• CONNECTICUT CHAPTER
• January 27th, 2006
• Elizabeth Robinson, LMFT, CEAP
• Manager, Employee Assistance Program
• University of Connecticut Health Center

2
Red Flags

• Each disorder has its own characteristic set of
  symptoms
• In general, you are looking for a significant
  change in the persons mood, behavior and/or
  appearance
• The person will likely begin to experience
  difficulty in their relationships with others
• There will probably also be problems at work,
  school, at home or in other social settings
• Do not try to diagnose the disorder leave that
  to the mental health professional

3
Role of Manager/Supervisor

• Supervisor is key to the success of the EAP
• The supervisor is in a key position to identify
  employees who may be at risk. You may see the
  early warning signs and have an opportunity to
  intervene before the problem becomes a crisis. Be
  alert to changes in behavior and performance and
  document your observations.
• Consider all of your options
• Remember, you are not alone. Consult with your
  manager, human resource professional and/or the
  EAP for advice on how to handle a particular
  situation. It may be helpful to have your Manager
  observe the behavior, particularly if there are
  concerns regarding Fitness for Duty
• Approach the employee with concern and offer
  appropriate resources

4
Signs of a problem may occur in the following
areas

• Appearance
• Mood
• Behaviors/Actions
• Absenteeism
• Performance/Production
• Relationships at Work
• Accidents

5
Signs and SymptomsAppearance

• Unkempt
• Inappropriate clothing
• Hygiene

6
Signs and SymptomsMood

• Mood swings elation/depression
• Nervous, suspicious
• Extreme sensitivity
• Irritability
• Withdrawn
• Sadness
• Preoccupation with illness and/or death

7
Signs and SymptomsBehaviors

• Argumentative
• Physically threatening
• Overly talkative
• Rigid, resistant to change
• Outbursts
• Excessive personal telephone calls
• Frequent complaining, blaming others

8
Signs and SymptomsAbsenteeism

• Excessive sick leave
• Frequent patterned absences
• Improper reporting of time off
• Frequent unscheduled time off
• Improbable excuses for time taken off
• On-the-job absenteeism

9
Signs and SymptomsPerformance/Production

• Missed deadlines
• Mistakes
• Poor judgment
• Forgetfulness
• Alternating periods of high and low productivity
• Taking more time to perform tasks
• Decreased ability to perform complex tasks
• Carelessness, work left undone
• Complaints about work
• Growing disorganization

10
Signs and SymptomsRelationships at Work

• Communication breakdowns
• Overreaction to real or imagined criticism
• Frequent criticism of the organization and/or
  co-workers
• Abrasiveness with others
• Inappropriate behavior with others
• Persistent request for a transfer
• Borrowing money from co-workers
• Difficulty relating to co-workers

11
Signs and SymptomsAccidents

• Accidents on the job
• Accidents off the job
• Physical complaints on the job

12
Common Mental Health Issues

• Depression
• Anxiety/Panic
• Substance Abuse
• Personality Disorders
• Paranoia/Thought Disorders
• Psychosis
• Bipolar (manic depression) Disorder

13
Crisis Intervention

• Things to consider
• Safety of employee, co-workers, Supervisor
• It is not always clear what is causing the
  behavior
• Does employee present an imminent risk to self or
  others
• Under influence in safety sensitive job
• Bizarre, uncontrolled behavior
• Threatening violence or suicide and has means
  available

14
Crisis Intervention (cont)

• Options
• Contact security if available
• Family member/emergency contact notified to get
  employee home or to get evaluation at EAP or
  emergency room
• Police escort to ER or other facility
• Call EAP for consultation or after you have acted
  so we can follow-up
• Notify Human Resources of situation
• Good idea to involve another member of management

15
Resources

• EAP
• Fitness for Duty Evaluation
• Local hospitals
• Crisis hotlines (dial 211 for Infoline in CT)
• Clergy
• Community agencies
• Local law enforcement for emergency situations

16
For More Information

• National Institute of Mental Health
  (nimh.nih.gov)
• American Psychological Association (apa.org)
• Connecticut Department of Mental Health and
  Substance Abuse (dmhas.state.ct.us)
• Connecticut Chapter of the National Alliance for
  the Mentally Ill (namict.org)