Note from the editor

CrossCurrents

In today's globalized economy, with its emphasis on rapid reaction, innovation and the capacity to constantly renew skills, ignoring workplace mental health and substance use problems and absorbing their costs is not a viable option. Mental health and substance use problems not only affect work performance in general, but also result in higher rates of absenteeism, accidents, illness and mortality, with all their related costs.

Yet while many organizations around the globe have introduced programs and measures to help employees cope with stress at the individual level, they also need to address how the workplace itself may contribute to ill health and how it can promote wellness. Evidence is mounting that such proactive rather than reactive approaches can reduce stress at work and improve employee health by focusing on preventing the causes of stress and alleviating the stressors themselves.

Beyond prevention and health promotion, healthy organizations face another challenge - addressing the needs of employees who do have mental health or substance use issues. Many employers and employees see people with mental health and substance use issues as unskilled, unproductive, unreliable, violent or unable to handle workplace pressures. In this climate, people with mental health and substance use issues are more likely to experience long-term unemployment, under-employment and dependency on social assistance. Yet work can be an integral part of recovery, boosting self-esteem and providing much-needed stability as well as financial means.

The articles in this issue of CrossCurrents cover a spectrum of employment issues, from promoting psychologically healthy workplaces to detecting mental health and addiction issues in the workplace, as well as developing effective policies around substance use in the workplace. The issue also features an article by Dr. William Anthony, executive director of the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, which highlights six myths that have prevailed in the psychiatric vocational rehabilitation field. Although the article was written nearly 10 years ago, many of the myths unfortunately continue to this day. We reprint the piece to challenge professionals in the field to advocate change.
Throughout this issue we provide links to the many valuable Web-based resources that are emerging, sparked by growing awareness and eagerness to address mental health and substance use issues in the workplace. It's a good sign.

Hema Zbogar
tel 416 595-6714
hema_zbogar@camh.net

 

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