Education and Advocacy

Businesses can educate employees about common mental illnesses and advocate for inclusion. Social barriers are some of the strongest obstacles that prevent people from acknowledging mental illness and seeking care. In addition to just raising awareness, employers can cultivate deep cultural change around these difficult topics by modeling “we can talk about this here.” Two things that have been found to confront the stigma that so many hold against mental illness are science that links mental health conditions to brain functioning and stories of hope and recovery. When employees learn about how mental illness works and that treatment is effective, they become hopeful and can become more accepting of help.

There are many organizations that provide mental health information and advocacy, give companies the opportunity to educate managers and employees about mental health, and design trainings suited to the specific needs of a company. The organizations below provide information regarding mental health research, public awareness, advocacy, common mental health concerns, specific workplace mental health concerns, conferences, tools to help employers develop a business case for addressing mental health, toolkits, workshops and screening programs.

• American Association of Suicidology
  Type of Organization: Non-profit
  Services: Promotes research, public awareness, programs, public education, and training for professionals, volunteers, and serves as a national clearinghouse for information on suicide.  Has an annual conference.  Provides PDF of information sheets and research
  Format (print, webinar, blog, etc.): Online PDFs, conference
  Cost: Free
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  Type of Organization: Non-profit
  Services: Supports research, provides information & education about depression & suicide; sponsors National Suicide Survivor Day (November)
  Format (print, webinar, blog, etc.): Videos, facilitator guides, website printouts
  Cost: Free
• Families for Depression Awareness
  Type of Organization: Non-profit
  Services: Provide educational workshops to employers on mental health topics , helps families recognize and cope with depressive disorders to get people well and prevent suicides.
  Format (print, webinar, blog, etc.): Webinars, publications, website, speakers, etc.
  Cost: Nominal charge for some activities, most are free
• Mental Health America
  Type of Organization: Non-profit
  Services: Supports National Mental Health Awareness Month (May), provides mental health information (including on workplace mental health), hosts national conference
  Format (print, webinar, blog, etc.): Online educational printouts, affiliate search database on website
  Cost: Free
• Partnership for Workplace Mental Health
  Type of Organization: Program of the American Psychiatric Foundation 501(c)3
  Services: Tools to help employers make business case; employer case examples
  Format (print, webinar, blog, etc.): 1. Quarterly publication, Mental Health Works, 2. Searchable database of employer case examples
  Cost: Free
• Screening for Mental Health
  Type of Organization: Non-profit
  Services: Online and in-person mental health education and screening programs, including National Depression Screening Day kits
  Format (print, webinar, blog, etc.): Online screening, in-person screening kits
  Cost: Fee based on program
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  Type of Organization: Program of SAMHSA and the Mental Health Association of NYC
  Services: Hotline/Crisis Center 1-800-273-8225 
  Format (print, webinar, blog, etc.): Suicide Prevention Hotline (Phone)
  Cost: Free
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center
  Type of Organization: Funded through grant under SAMHSA
  Services: Trainings and webinars on suicide prevention, publications
  Format (print, webinar, blog, etc.): Toolkits, guides, research summaries, webinar, online courses and information sheets on a variety of suicide prevention topics
  Cost: Free
• Working Minds
  Type of Organization: Non-profit
  Services: Educational workshops and keynote addresses for workplace conferences. Website with workplace-screening tool, train-the-trainer workshop and training toolkit
  Format (print, webinar, blog, etc.): Fact sheets and blueprint for change, employer testimonial videos
  Cost: Web resources are free