Do more for the 1 in 4

Do more for the 1 in 4 is the call to action for the month of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. The platform was developed by Mental Health America, a leading non-profit agency dedicated to promoting mental health.

Why that phrase? Because it is estimated that 1 in 4 Americans suffer from a diagnosable, treatable mental health condition.

Alabama District EAP Consultant Dr. Patricia Hamilton (pictured below on the left with Diversity Member Paula Williamson) wants everyone to be aware of and feel free to use the many services that are available to support the mental health ad well-being of employees and their loved ones through The Employee Assistance Program.

At a recent EAP information session that was conducted in Birmingham, Dr. Hamilton discussed the stigma that unfortunately prevents some people from reaching out for the help that they need.

She wants to ease employees' unnecessary fear or embarrassment. "Your use of this service is completely confidential. Even if your spouse or partner calls to ask if you showed up, I can't answer that question," Hamilton said.

She added that the location of her office in Birmingham is in a seeming industrial area where nobody you know will see you come or go.

Additionally, for Mental Health Month, Dr. Hamilton was kind enough to submit the following information about bullying:

WORKPLACE BULLYING

Though we often think of school-aged children when we hear the word “bullying”, it can also occur between adults through workplace bullying. This can include verbal abuse; offensive conduct or behaviors (including nonverbal) which are threatening,  humiliating, or intimidating; and work interference — sabotage — which prevents work from getting done. 


Workplace bullying creates a hostile environment that is unproductive, and in some instances 
may even be illegal. Many of the same principles for dealing with a bully as a youth – such as reporting bullying to a higher authority or simply walking away and refusing to engage with a bully – can be used to handle an adult bully in the workplace.

CREATING A BULLY-FREE ENVIRONMENT 

If you’ve never been bullied or witnessed bullying, understanding what to do in the event it does occur is still important. There are ways everyone can help to prevent bullying. A number of organizations have information and resources to help you create a bully free environment in your school, workplace or community. Steps you can take include:


1. Helping your school or work community to create a pledge promising that bullying in any form is unacceptable.


2. Encouraging members of your community to call out bullying when they see it – sometimes bullies don’t realize they are bullying.


3. Designating an adult or leader as a person to go to for confidential help when someone is the victim of bullying.


4. Outlining expectations for respect and acceptance of others in your community.

5. If you’re a parent, talk to your children about bullying, try to model appropriate interpersonal behavior, explain that your home is a bully-free environment and set expectations for the kinds of behaviors that are and are not acceptable inside or outside of the home.


6. Remember that the Internet should also be a bully-free environment; don’t post things on the web or in social networks that you wouldn’t say directly to someone, and don’t “jump on the bandwagon” by sharing a bully’s comments for others to see; messages posted online are very difficult to “take back” and can spread to others in unexpected ways.