Workplace wellness: Mental Health First Aid provides tools to identify and respond to those in crisis

By Meghan Diemel

In Mind Share Partners’ 2021 Mental Health at Work Report, 76% of U.S. workers reported at least one symptom of a mental health condition, and 84% of respondents said their workplace conditions had contributed to at least one mental health challenge. Additionally, results from the American Psychological Association’s 2022 Work and Well-being Survey reported 81% of workers surveyed will be looking for workplaces that support mental health in the future.

The mental health challenges in the United States have real-world implications for everyone — and not just at home. In organizations ranging from small businesses to large corporations, The World Health Organization estimates that 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety, to the tune of $1 trillion in lost productivity.

Considering the challenges facing Americans, it’s no surprise that local businesses are looking for new ways to protect mental health at work and support employees who have existing mental health conditions. Beth Relich, vice president of human resources at Green Bay’s KI, believes it has become a more prevalent issue over the last five to 10 years for two major reasons. She says the first is that it’s become more acceptable to talk about, due in large part to notable figures — like gymnast Simone Biles — discussing their own struggles in the media.

“I do believe that the impact of the COVID pandemic years we experienced as a world created additional mental health concerns,” she says. “I believe it was the fear we went through as well as the isolation … and I don’t believe we even know what all the ramifications are yet.”

From her professional perspective, Relich sees stress, anxiety and depression as the biggest mental health issues facing the workforce. As a result, increasing accessibility to mental health professionals and related services has been top of mind for her. She also wants to begin support groups for employees who may be experiencing challenges in the home, like caregiving, and provide employees with welcoming outdoor spaces in which to spend work or leisure time during the workday. It’s all in an effort to improve the mental health of KI employees.

Through an established partnership with St. Norbert College, Relich was able to attend a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for the Workplace training and found it an important step in furthering her initiatives for KI. As MHFA instructor Jennifer Sovey explains, the training is an international skills-based course that teaches participants about mental health and substance use issues. The course teaches how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders, as well as teaches participants the skills they will need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing an illness or is in crisis.

“It really helps people to feel comfortable intervening,” Sovey explains. “We know when people don’t feel comfortable and don’t know what to do, they oftentimes avoid interacting or intervening. This program really gives them a foundation of tools to assess [the person in need].”

Sovey has seen it become a tremendously successful tool for participants, from college students to business professionals and athletics coaches. They report an increase in comfort in asking questions, recognizing signs and symptoms, and knowing what resources are available in the community for those in need.

In addition to her role as a counselor with Counseling and Psychological Services at St. Norbert College, Sovey has her own practice and sees a need and value to the community in offering MHFA training to the business community at large.

“It’s necessary and crucial; everyone in the community should be certified because it affects not only our professional lives, but our personal lives and in our communities,” she stresses. “And then the world could be a much better place, right?”

When navigating new challenges in the workplace, a little empathy can go a long way. As Relich often reminds her colleagues in conversation, it’s important to remember all of us are carrying a different load — and most of them are heavy.

“Rather than pass judgment on why they did what they did, reach out and talk to them,” she says.

For more information about Mental Health First Aid, visit mentalhealthfirstaid.org.

To connect with Jennifer Sovey regarding possible MHFA trainings, email jennifer@buildingresiliencecounseling.com or call 920-680-8087.

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