APA's Workplace Collaboration Provides New Online Tool

The Partnership for Workplace Mental Health, a program of the American Psychiatric Foundation, has launched Employer Innovations Online, a Web-based, searchable database that profiles employers' innovative policies, programs and practices for addressing mental health. It can be accessed at<www.workplacementalhealth.org>.

Employer Innovations Online is the latest expression of the Partnership for Workplace Mental Health's commitment to advancing effective employer approaches to mental health. As APA President Carolyn Robinowitz, M.D., explained, “The partnership focuses on helping employers understand the business case for addressing mental health at the workplace. Employer Innovations Online helps employers translate that understanding into action by highlighting case examples of successful company approaches.”

This resource, which is easily navigated and user friendly, describes the actual practices of leading companies in key areas, such as screening and education, employee assistance programs, disability management, community partnerships, and wellness programs. Each entry, or case study, in the database describes the practices of one employer, such as American Airlines, Cisco Systems, DuPont, JPMorgan Chase, Pitney Bowes, PPG Industries, and Sprint. Users have the option of searching by employer name, type of program, number of employees, type of industry, or geographical region.

The business case for addressing mental health has evolved in recent years. Employers are increasingly saying to the partnership, “We get it. Not addressing mental health is costly. What do we do about it?” This tool was developed in direct response to that question.

The Partnership for Workplace Mental Health invites employer participation in this new project. Interested companies and organizations can submit their innovative approaches to workplace mental health online at<www.workplacementalhealth.org/search.aspx>, or contact Leftwich at (703) 907-8561 or [email protected]. Those interested in more information about the database or the partnership are welcome to call Leftwich as well. ▪