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Workplace Mental Health: What Employers & Employees Can Do
Daniel Hageman
Living with a mental illness means working with one, too. Although those struggling with their mental health can have great difficulty engaging in many aspects of life (including their careers), others are able to perform well at work despite how they`re feeling. Even so, The American Psychiatric Association estimates that depression costs up to $200 billion a year through diminished productivity, workplaces absences, and associated healthcare expenditures.
Living with a mental illness means working with one, too. Although those struggling with their mental health can have great difficulty engaging in many aspects of life (including their careers), others are able to perform well at work despite how they’re feeling. Even so, mental illnesses such as depression cause productivity loss (employees with depression miss an estimated 6-25 days more per year than their coworkers), and The American Psychiatric Association estimates that depression costs up to $200 billion a year through workplaces absences and associated healthcare expenditures alongside diminished productivity.
What can employers do?
- Learn the facts . Mental illness is unfortunately more commonplace than many employers may think, with an estimated 1 in 5 adults in the United States experiencing mental illness in a given year. This means that for a medium-sized business employing 1,000 people, 200 employees will be effected—don’t think that mental illness is something that happens to “other people.”
- Recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health . Recent years have seen an increased focus on employee physical health, from free gym memberships to standing desks. The same incentives are being made for mental health at the most forward-thinking companies by offering meditation courses or checking in with employees and encouraging them to take time off when they feel they need it.
- If possible, be flexible. Deadlines are deadlines, but consider offering periodic teleworking when it’s possible, or allowing working hours outside of the normal 8-5 as long as employees are able to maintain their standard of productivity.
- Cultivate inclusiveness . Strive to create a work environment that values employees by recognizing individuals for their efforts, and working with them to achieve their career goals.
What can employees do?
- If possible, be honest. Unfortunately, mental illness is still stigmatized and can be seen as a liability or weakness in business. If you feel that your employer is sympathetic and will not dismiss your concerns, consider letting them know that you’ve been struggling and telling them that you’d like to find ways to help better manage your workload.
- Be proactive about seeking out help. Often, mental health is pushed to the backburner and doesn’t get addressed until someone is close to a breaking point. However, it’s important to be proactive about recognizing when you need help and getting it sooner rather than later and before it begins to further negatively impact you.
- Cultivate positive habits. Even if your employer isn’t the type to understand or make accommodations for mental health, you can keep up with the habits that help manage your mental illness, on top of your existing treatment program. Do your best to maintain good sleep habits and strive to improve your diet and exercise. If you find that your workplace is exacerbating your mental illness despite your best efforts, you may consider looking for a new opportunity elsewhere.
Even for employees without mental illness, the current business environment trend of 24/7 availability and a lack of true downtime keeps workers from being able to feel rested and recharged, even on their days off. For others, relying on the gig economy to replace or supplement steady income creates financial insecurity that heightens stress levels and puts people at higher risk for developing conditions such as anxiety or depression. With the average person spending over 13 full years at work during their lifetimes, promoting mental wellness in the workplace is critical to improving overall mental health, whether at work or outside of it.
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Starting any medical treatment for the first time can leave you with questions, especially if you’re looking forward to the benefits it may bring. It’s no different when you’re preparing for your nasal esketamine treatment. Your previous mental health treatments may have consisted solely of taking antidepressants at home or visiting a therapist’s office for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so nasal esketamine is probably a new treatment experience for you. If you're wondering what it's like to start nasal esketamine and get ready for your first session, keep reading. Getting Started with the Nasal Esketamine Treatment As with any new treatment, you’ll first talk to your primary care provider or psychiatrist about whether nasal esketamine is a good fit for you. Alternatively, you can schedule your esketamine nasal spray consultation with a treatment center (such as Greenbrook) that has certification by the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). At Greenbrook's REMS-certified nasal esketamine treatment centers, our Greenbrook-affiliated psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will review your medical history and also conduct our own assessment to help determine whether nasal esketamine treatment is right for you. Certain conditions, including blood vessel disease and a history of psychosis, may make treatment a risk for you. Make sure you discuss all previous and present conditions with your doctor or nasal esketamine provider before beginning treatment. If the medication is deemed a good fit, you’ll receive your prescription from the Greenbrook-affiliated provider. Your Greenbrook Care Team will put together a personalized care plan for the weeks and months to follow. Keep in mind that you will need to take a standard (oral) antidepressant along with your nasal esketamine treatment. There are two important regulations to note when it comes to preparing for treatment: Each treatment is followed by a mandatory two-hour observation period. This means you will need to plan to stay at the center for at least two hours following your self-administration of the esketamine nasal spray. You cannot drive during the rest of the day after treatment and must arrange for transportation. These regulations are mandatory. It may be helpful to sit down and plan out several weeks’ worth of transportation once you know your treatment schedule. In addition, if you’re wondering what to bring for the treatment, we recommend entertainment such as an audiobook or playlist of favorite songs and a pair of headphones. You may want them during the two-hour observation period. What to Expect During Nasal Esketamine Treatment On the day of treatment, you’ll need to stop eating any food two hours before your appointment and stop drinking all fluids 30 minutes before you come in. Your Greenbrook Care Team will confirm that you are prepared for the two-hour observation period and that you have a ride home. You’ll get the opportunity to practice using a “trainer sprayer” that mimics the real nasal esketamine sprayer but does not release any medication. The Care Team will encourage you to use the restroom and set up your preferred environment in your private treatment bay or room. Some patients like reduced lighting, for example, while others don’t request light adjustments. You’ll complete a depression scale before each treatment session. Your Greenbrook provider will confirm that the dose kit is yours, show you how to administer it, and then hand it to you. Each sprayer contained 28mg of Spravato esketamine nasal spray. Patients usually start with two sprayers (56mg) and soon increase to 84mg (three sprayers) per treatment. But, your dosage maybe vary. Should you be left with a metallic taste by the spray, the Care Team will offer suckers to help make the flavor dissipate. After your dose, you’ll be encouraged to lie back in your comfortable recliner. While most patients enjoy a quiet setting, Greenbrook is prepared to accommodate patients with a more animated reaction to the medication. You may feel sleepy, dizzy, mildly dissociated, and/or nauseated during treatment. Greenbrook's Care Team is readily available if you need assistance. How to Prepare for after your Nasal Esketamine Treatment Most side effects begin to wane in the second hour of observation, but if you’re wondering, “Is it safe to drive immediately after nasal esketamine treatment?” the answer is a resounding no. In addition to the mandatory ride home, you will need to block off time to rest and let side effects fully dissipate. This extended rest period is especially important in the first weeks of treatment when you’ll have treatment twice a week. Do not drive or operate machinery of any kind until the day after treatment. Just take it easy, relax, and take care of yourself. If you’re unsure what activities you can do or should avoid during this time, talk to your Care Team for more information. While side effects tend to dissipate completely after a good night’s sleep, many nasal esketamine patients begin feeling relief from depression symptoms within hours of their treatment. Other Tips in Preparing for Your Nasal Esketamine Treatment At Greenbrook, we make every effort to schedule your treatment in the afternoons or whenever it is most convenient for you. We encourage you to see each treatment session as an opportunity to relax and take care of your mental health. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your doctor or the Greenbrook Care Team. At Greenbrook, we’ll help you feel at ease when preparing for each treatment session. Schedule A Free Consultation To get started with nasal esketamine, schedule your free consultation today.
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