Workplace Mental Health
Nearly one in five Americans live with a mental health condition, yet there are no well-established and agreed-upon standards in the U.S. to guide employers about how to increase mental health awareness in the workplace, support prevention, and respond to needs with recovery strategies.
An initial draft of the Commission’s workplace mental health report, Working Well, has been published to our website, where it is currently available for public review and comment. Please click here to download a PDF of the public draft of Working Well.
This report includes a set of findings, recommendations, and standards for workplace mental health. We invite you to make written and/or verbal comments. You may make comments on the draft in three ways:
- Verbal: Attend the Workplace Mental Health Subcommittee virtually via Zoom. The Subcommittee will host a virtual public meeting on January 12, 2023. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.
- Written (digital): Email your comments to wpreportcomments@mhsoac.ca.gov
- Written (physical): Mail a hard copy of your comments to our physical address, 1812 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
Written comments must be received by January 6, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. PDT.
Further information regarding feedback can be found on this flyer (click here)
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This is our opportunity to promote mental health and build resilience in the workplace in California, and we look forward to hearing your feedback. Verbal comments may be made at the upcoming Workplace Mental Health Subcommittee meeting, or when the report is presented to the Commission for adoption.
Goal/Opportunity
The goals of the Workplace Mental Health project include:
- Explore current practices in workplace mental health in the U.S. and abroad;
- Identify cost-effective methods for promoting workplace mental health that align with employee and employer needs
- Provide a framework to organizations for creating policies and processes to address mental health in the workplace
- Support public and private collaboration on workplace mental health initiatives
- Explore incentives for public and private organizations to implement mental healthcare in the workplace
Background
Senate Bill 1113 (Monning) in 2018 directed the Commission to establish a framework and voluntary standard for promoting mental health in the workplace.
Expected Outcomes
The standards for workplace mental health are intended to reduce mental health stigma, increase public, employee, and employer awareness of the significance of mental health, and create avenues to treatment, support, and recovery.
Project Milestones
Next Steps
Reach out to learn more about Workplace Mental Health
Resources