Workplace Stress
Outreach Materials
It is imperative to talk about mental health; shine light on the stressors; strategize about ways to alleviate stress them; and be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of stress and mental health emergencies so that people can either direct themselves, their friends, co-workers or family members to helpful coping and resiliency resources or other supportive networks and services if needed. The key is to build awareness, and the outreach products identified below will help with that goal. Workers and employers alike will benefit from the information, and the latter may wish to use these resources as building blocks for creating an awareness campaign within their organization. Employers, unions, and worker organizations can and should take all steps to protect the mental health of workers. Unions and worker organizations can also serve an important role in supporting workplace mental health and well-being through their member services as well as their outreach and community engagement work.
OSHA Resources
- Support One Another Toolkit (ZIP) Spanish (ZIP). Provides tips on creating a workplace culture that support mental health by talking about mental health.
- Working Together poster. Provides a brief overview of steps employers and workers can take to address stress and mental health in the workplace.
- Supporting Your Co-Workers poster. Provides concrete tips that people can use to support their co-workers, offering suggestions on how to be respectful when broaching stress and mental health topics, how to listen compassionately, how to determine if more assistance is needed, and how to follow up on concerns.
- Worker-Fatigue Webpage. Focuses on worker fatigue and includes information about the impact of demanding work schedules and measures workers and employers can take to prevent worker fatigue and fatigue-related injuries and illnesses by providing or participating in education, training, and fatigue management programs.
- Helping Your Co-Workers and Yourself poster. Offers general tips on ways employers and co-workers can help each other address stress and mental health, and advice for those currently facing mental health challenges.
- CDC Foundation: How Right Now. Interactive site was created to support mental health. It asks users how they are feeling (e.g., stressed, afraid, grieving, lonely) and then directs them to a variety of stress relief tools and mental health supports.
- EBSA: Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity. Learn about your job-based mental health and substance use disorder rights and get assistance from a live Benefits Advisor.
- HHS: 5 Things About Staying Mentally Healthy. Two-minute video that offers five tips for coping with the mental strain: 1) avoiding alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism, 2) staying active, 3) exploring wellness programs, 4) staying connected, and 5) seeking help if needed.
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Free Mobile App: Mindfulness Coach. Walks users through mindfulness meditation to help reduce stress and cope with unpleasant emotions.
- SAMHSA: Your Recovery is Important: Virtual Recovery Resources. Tip sheet that identifies virtual resources that people can use to support their recovery from mental health/substance use disorders.
- SAMHSA: Decisions in Recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. Offers a variety of resources to support recovery and treatment for those who are ready to address their opioid use.
- NIOSH Science Blog: Improve Sleep: Tips to Improve Your Sleep When Times Are Tough. Blogpost that emphasizes the importance of high-quality sleep during stressful times and offers evidence-based suggestions on how to improve it.
- Mental Health America
- Workplace Mental Health Programs. This website offers resources that employers can use to create supportive work environments and highlights a national certification program (the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health) that recognizes employers who stand out in this area.
- Mental Health Resources for Employers. Resource includes extensive list on mental health tips, how to integrate better practices, and how to put employees first.
- Online Mental Health Screening Tools. Offers free, anonymous, online screening tools that people can use to determine if they are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition (e.g., anxiety, depression, addiction, eating disorders).
- American Psychological Association: Psychologists’ Advice for Newly Remote Workers. Article with tips for remote workers to reduce stressors and prevent isolation, advising them to minimize distractions, set goals and boundaries, make a communication plan, and seek social connections.
- The National Institute of Mental Health: My Mental Health: Do I Need Help? Poster that differentiates between mild and severe symptoms, identifies self-care techniques, and explains how to seek professional help.
- Existing Mental Health Campaigns and Toolkits:
- Healthy Work Campaign
- National Prevention Week
- Mental Health Awareness Month
- Suicide Prevention Month
- List of Awareness Events
- Mental Health Awareness Charity Walks and Runs
- Opioids At Work Employer Toolkit
- The ICU program, which stands for Identifying, Connecting, and Understanding, as well as “I See You.”
- Right Direction
- Mental Health in Rural Communities Toolkit
- Upper Midwest Agricultural Health and Safety Center: Stress and Mental Health
- National Center for Farmworker Health Resource Hub
- The Jed Foundation
- How to Practice Gratitude. This blog provides an overview of gratitude and how it can strengthen our mental health, including gratitude exercises that can help you practice it in your daily life.
- How to Relieve Stress: Breathing Exercises You Can Do Anywhere: This blog provides an overview of the importance of breathing during stressful events. The blog provides examples of breathing exercises that anyone can do anywhere and anytime to relieve stress.