» Why Offer an Anonymous Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Screening for Employees

Click here to watch a webinar on Mental Health Strategies in the Workplace, including the Interactive Screening Program as discussed below

As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to make sure every employer is aware of the resources out there to support their employees’ mental and behavioral health. While health plans and point solutions support employees who take the step of engaging with the healthcare system in some way, mental health faces unique obstacles around stigma, lack of awareness, and inaccessible modes of care.

The single biggest obstacle facing quality mental and behavioral health is a person realizing they need care and then being equipped to access that care. If an employee shows up to work with a debilitating cough or a limp, you’d tell them to go see the doctor. But someone is a bit short in a meeting, has a downcast gaze, and seems disconnected, and we say nothing.

If this strikes you as a problem, you should consider adopting a screening solution like the Interactive Screening Program offered by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

For disclosure, I served as a board member for the Los Angeles chapter of AFSP for 3 years and I’ve continued to volunteer with this organization. I don’t have a financial interest in the ISP or AFSP, I just bring them up frequently due to my deep familiarity with their programs and the organization.

A screening program like the ISP is an online program offered through your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides a safe and confidential way for people to screen themselves for stress, depression, and other mental health conditions.

Not only that, but the ISP then connects that person to a program counselor who can help them access the mental health services available to them. All this communication can be anonymous so they receive recommendations and support for accessing needed mental health services.

Don’t just take it from us – AFSP’s ISP has been highlighted by various organizations. It’s listed in:

• The Best Practice Registry for Suicide Prevention
• The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s Tools and Resources for Physician Well-Being
• It’s a recommended program in the U.S. Surgeon General’s report “Addressing Health Worker Burnout: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Building a Thriving-Health Workforce“

If you’re interested in adopting the ISP within your EAP and overall health plan, let’s talk today.

Posted by John Hansbrough in Behavioral Health, Digital Health, Employee Assistance Program, Health Equity, Healthcare, Healthcare Innovation, Mental Health, Navigation, Telehealth, Wellness