Business Benefits of Therapy & Counseling

The Business Benefits of Therapy & Counseling

Most employers are well aware of the impact the health of their employees has on the business’ bottom line. Many, however, fail to consider the effect of mental and emotional well being.

According to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), nearly 1 in 4 Americans are affected by mental illness annually, and 1 in 17 lives with a major mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Mental illness actually costs 193 billion dollars annually in lost earnings, according to NAMI.

Mood disorders such as depression represent the third most common cause of hospitalization for both youths and adults aged 18-44. An estimated 217 million days of work are lost annually due to productivity decline related to mental illness and substance, according to the Center for Prevention and Health Services. As the saying goes, “the best ability is often availability.”

A recent survey by Buck Consultants at Xerox reports that 33% of employers say the stress level of their workplace has gone up in the last five years. Additionally, a 2014 study published in the Journal of Business Venturing, found that habitual entrepreneurs display symptoms of behavioral addictions, such as obsessive thoughts, withdrawal-engagement cycles, and negative emotional outcomes. Similar to other behavioral addictions – like gambling or internet usage – serial entrepreneurs are likely to experience negative consequences that stem from their need to keep going.

Although many mental health issues go overlooked or unreported, most of these issues could be treated with the proper care. There are several steps an employer can take to help address the mental and emotional well being of his or her employees.

Helping an employee or co-worker to recognize risk factors and symptoms of mental health issues is one of the simplest and most effective ways to ensure your office is a healthy work environment. Mental health professionals, like myself, can provide free screenings at your office. If issues arise, a full assessment can be given to those who reveal symptoms.

Allowing an employee to attend weekly therapy appointments during business hours, for example, could prevent that employee from missing significant time in the future due to worsening issues. Creating policies that support emotional wellness and treatment will go a long way towards making the work place healthy and productive.

If you’d like to see how Ellen Wilkins Counseling and Therapy Center can improve the health and performance of your workplace, please call (615) 308-8680 or email ellen@ellenwilkins.com


 

20 thoughts on “Business Benefits of Therapy & Counseling

  1. I found it interesting that you said that depression is the third most common cause for youth and adults. My aunt told me that her son was going through a depression stage in his life, and she wanted to find a way to help him out. I’m going to suggest her finding a good therapy session for him.

  2. It’s interesting to know that depression represents the third most common cause of hospitalization for both youths and adults. My husband is looking for information to improve his company’s efficiency. I will let him know about the benefits of therapy to improve his company efficiency.

  3. It’s interesting to know that most mental health problems can be treated with proper care. My brother is thinking about visiting a therapist with his wife, and we are looking for advice. I will let him know about the benefits of seeing a therapist help him improve his work-life.

  4. I like how you mentioned that most employers are well aware of the impact the health of their employees has on the business’ bottom line. One of my coworkers was telling me during lunch that he is going through a very hard situation, economic and sentimental. It would be a great idea to implement personal counseling to the employees so that we can feel better.

  5. It’s good to know that allowing employees to regularly attend counseling during business hours can prevent the employee from missing significant time in the future. I recently started a business and have been looking for ways to create a positive and productive work environment. I will consider allowing employees to attend counseling sessions weekly to improve their mental health and increase the amount of work that gets done.

  6. It’s cool that counseling and therapy can help employees avoid larger issues in the future. My boss has been telling me about how he wants to ensure that all of his employees are happy at work. I’ll share this information with him so that he can look into his options for counselors who can help with this.

  7. You made a great point about mood disorders and how they are the third most common cause of hospitalization in youth and adults. My husband and I are worried our daughter is depressed and we want to find a counseling service to help her. We will keep these tips in mind as we search for a professional service who can take care of our daughter.

  8. Thank you for all this great information about counseling! I really like that you say that they can actually help with stress levels at work. It would be nice to know that you will have someone in trying times to help you out.

  9. I loved that you mentioned you can ensure a healthy work environment by helping your co-workers to recognize any signs of a mental issue. My husband is thinking about how to improve his business work environment, and we are looking for advice to help him. I will let him know about your recommendations to help him.

  10. I love the idea of allowing employees that have mental health issues or who just need help to attend therapy sessions during business hours. This could help them be more efficient workers and help them in their personal lives too. They could get help from therapy without having to take time away from their families.

  11. I like how you mention that businesses can provide their employees with opportunities to get screened for mental health disorders and given advice on the proper treatment. My husband has been very worried about his youngest brother recently since he just started his first job out of college. I think that if his workplace did some screenings it could help the employees feel more comfortable in the office as well.

  12. I’ve been having a hard time keeping myself motivated. It makes sense that there are kinds of therapy that could help me out! It would be really nice to have someone who is trying to help me out.

  13. I liked what you said about how counseling can help properly treat mental health issues that go overlooked and unreported. My cousin has been having a lot of trouble with his anxiety and he would really like to get his life together and make sure that he is more productive. Getting some help from a professional could help him feel more confident in himself and make better decisions.

  14. I like what you said about seeking out mental health services since workplace stress has increased over the last five years. My boss wants to make sure that her employees are all happy at work. I’ll share this information with her so that she can look into her options for mental health counseling that can help with this.

  15. Wow, I never would have guessed that depression represents the third most common reason for hospitalization. I would say that it would be important for businesses to provide plenty of resources and access to counseling for employees so that they can stay healthy. Businesses could probably find HR companies that provide counseling as a way to help employees stay healthy.

  16. My cousin is having a really hard time with her mental health and she wants to make sure that she can be a lot safer and more productive. Getting some help from a professional could be really useful and allow her to pay more attention to her kids and help them feel more loved. I liked what you said about how good mental health for employees can create a better community and prevent further issues.

  17. My cousin has been thinking about getting some therapy because he hasn’t been productive during work. He would really like to feel more motivated with the help of a professional. Thanks for the tips about the proper care can be taken care of to get better treatments for issues.

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