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What I’ve Been Reading This Week: Employee Mental Health Edition


Mental health is a topic that many employers (and employees) try to skirt and avoid entirely.  While every situation is different and I am not here to suggest that employers and employees will tackle every single mental health issue in the workplace, I think it is important to have an open dialogue on the topic.  Following a recent World Wrestling Entertainment situation this past weekend in which an announcer, Mauro Ranallo, deleted his Twitter account and has gone radio silent following a critical tweet my a fellow co-worker, mental health has become a more common talking point in recent days.  (Ranallo has previously been open about his mental health and his struggles as a result.)  Given that this is a shorter work week for many with Thanksgiving tomorrow, now is as good of a time as any to talk about this matter.
I will remind readers that for those dealing with mental health issues, it is important to talk with a trained professional.  Although the below articles provide good food for thought on the topic, they are not intended to serve as guidance or a “remedy” for those dealing with mental health related matters.

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.


Destigmatizing Mental Health In the Workplace

What better place to start than this article from Samantha Todd over at Forbes who writes that the destigmatization of mental health in the workplace is something that should be addressed.  With nearly one in five Americans dealing with mental illness, Todd writes that employers could implement anonymous assistance programs to help employees.  As well, employers could work to create an open line of communication with their employees to help foster an open and supportive work environment.


Mental Health In the Restaurant Industry: A Growing Concern

A week or two ago, I talked with a loyal reader of the blog on the topic of mental health in the workplace.  That conversation lead me to reading a few articles on the matter the past few days.  This particular article caught my eye, as Gavin Jenkins notes a troubling trend emerging of a mental health crisis in the restaurant industry.  The article provides an intriguing insight into the topic and includes a few suggestions on how employers in the industry can help try and address (and perhaps curb) the trend.


Chipotle to Offer Mental Health Benefits to Employees

Fox Business reported recently that Chipotle is set to provide its workers with mental health benefits, marking one of the first times a large scale employer in the food service industry will offer its employees such a benefit.  Starting next year, the company will offer this benefit to over 80,000 workers.  Will other large scale employers in the food service follow suit?  I would expect so...the question remains who will be next?

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