Picture yourself as a supervisor/manager. You have an employee with a problem. Not just an ordinary problem, like what to buy a spouse for her birthday. But something big…. like depression, or alcoholism.  And it's starting to affect your employee’s work and productivity. And not only does it affect that particular employee, it also affects all those working with him.

What do you do?

Let your employees know you care about their mental wellness!

First, you should consider implementing an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for your company. (Okay, okay, you got us - EAPs are not "free". BUT they are inexpensive and definitely something to think about!)

Next, point them in the direction of the resources available to the general public both online and in person. (Free!)

Here’s a head’s up for you: starting in October, mental health organizations in British Columbia will be hosting “Beyond the Blues” workshops across the province for two months. The workshops are free, anonymous, and walk-in. You can use this as an opportunity to promote mental wellness to your employees by making them aware of these workshops.  In addition, let them know about some truly not-to-be-missed tools they have right at their fingertips by checking out this website: Screening Self-Tests

Encourage your employees to view the web page and to take one or more of the tests to do a Mental Health Check for themselves. The self-tests available are to identify:

• Depression
• Anxiety Disorders
• Risky Drinking
• Well-Being

Does your receptionist think she is anxious? Now she can take a self-test to check it out. Nobody needs to know. What about the test for “well-being”? Who doesn’t want to perform a check in to see if all is well?  All these tests can be done by anybody, anytime. It only takes a few minutes, and best of all, it's free and confidential.

While these tests can’t take every situation into account, they can certainly give us a snapshot of our feelings. It’s a good way to learn about signs and symptoms to watch out for. Once the test is complete, further resources and actions are suggested.

Of course, if anyone is concerned about any aspect of their health and wellness, it’s best to talk to their doctor or other health care provider.

For more information about Beyond the Blues events around the province, or facts about mental health, visit HeretoHelp's website.