Are Local Employers Doing Enough for Worker Mental Health?
CHARLOTTE, NC — There were nearly 400 workplace homicides in 2013, the most up-to-date data reports.
Wednesday’s tragic shooting of two journalists on air is one of the at least four workplace-related killings in the past year.
After killing journalists Alison Parker and Adam Ward, Vester Flanagan revealed in a 23-page manifest, “I’ve been a human powder keg for a while… just waiting to go BOOM,” perhaps recognizing his mental state.
Β
“I think businesses now realize, especially if you have a large workforce, a lot of our people are suffering with mental illness,” said Charlotte Psychiatrist Dr. John Santopietro.
Β
The Chief Clinical Officer of Behavioral Health at Carolinas HealthCare System says statistics show one in four employees are suffering.
Β
Local Businesses are beginning to reach out to his team for the Mental Health First Aid eight-hour course.
Β
It educates workers about the signs of mental illness and coaches them on how to approach others about it.
Β
Just 3,000 in the Queen City have completed the course.Β
Β
Only 500,000 in the U.S. have completed it in the past eight years.
Β
“I would say we could be doing a better job,” said Dr. Santopietro. “We haven’t prepared people enough to know what the signs are to look for.”
Β
Human resource representatives tell us they offer troubled employees mental health Β treatment, but if they have to terminate, they evaluate the risk. They do have the option of locking ex-employees out of the building.
Β
Two years passed since Flanagan had been fired and escorted out of WDBJ.
Β
“People aren’t going to pick up the phone and say, ‘Oh, I want to see a psychiatrist today,'” said Dr. Santopietro. “It happens, and we’re glad it’s happening more.”
Β
More than 75 percent of North Carolina employers do have an employee assistance program in place where workers can call therapists anonymously.
Β
Doctors say most people don’t call. Instead, EAP programs say managers call weekly, asking for advice on how to deal with troubled employees.
Β
