Mental Health in the Workplace

Investing in mental health and safety is critical to build strong workplaces, a strong workforce and strong communities.

Employees and employers across the state are encouraged to review these resources and build on mental health strategies that will have a positive impact on employee wellbeing, the employer’s bottom line and our communities.

Strategies to Improve Mental Health in the Workplace

To further efforts to support mental health and wellbeing for more Michiganders, Governor Gretchen Whitmer tasked LEO with establishing a dedicated workgroup to focus on mental health, trauma and resiliency in the workplace. The workgroup released their findings and key strategies for employers to help build supportive workplaces by integrating employee mental health strategies that establish healthier workplaces, enhance employee wellbeing and promote resilient companies.

View the Report Recommendation

In addition, the Surgeon General has released their Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being, providing a foundation for workplaces to build upon. View the U.S. Surgeon General Report

Work itself is identified as a primary source of stress for individuals. 65% of U.S. employees surveyed identified their job as the No. 1 stress in their lives.

Employees who are feeling emotionally drained from work are at a higher risk of workplace stress, leading to burnout and other mental health concerns.

Research suggests that stress alone costs American companies over $300 billion in health care costs, absenteeism and poor performance. Further, roughly 40% of turnover is due to job stress.

Construction Suicide Prevention

The construction industry has one of the highest rates of suicides among all occupations — four times higher than the general population. In Michigan, the construction and extraction occupation suicide rate was 75.4 per 100,000 people in 2019 according to MDHHS. Each year in Sept., OSHA dedicates a week to raising awareness about the challenges workers face in the construction industry that may lead to suicide or other mental health issues and methods to prevent it.

Learn more about our 2022 efforts