Suggestions for the Workplace

• If your workplace has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) contact the officials and ask them to display MIAW posters, information pamphlets and information about the EAP services in a prominent location at the office. Ensure that the Employee Assistance Program promotes mental health and has a comprehensive mental illness component. If not, offer to help develop one by putting them in touch with organizations that can help out.
  
  
• Ask businesses in your neighbourhood to distribute information about mental illness in the workplace.
  
  
• Encourage all businesses to establish programs to help people deal with workplace stress or other mental illnesses. Ask them to develop formal policies on the issue.
  
  
• Organize a panel debate on mental illness with experts at lunch hour, after work or even during office hours to benefit all workers. Teach workers how to deal with stress. Ensure they know what help is available for addiction, depression, anxiety or other mental health problems they may be experiencing.
  
  
• Give information to management about the impact of excluding people with a mental illness from the workplace and the dollars lost due to a lack of mental health promotion in the workplace.