University of Michigan Depression Center conference offers tips on helping employees during pandemic

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*See below for a recap of this recent Depression Center conference.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Helping employees thrive while coping with the stressors of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was the theme of the University of Michigan Depression Center’s latest conference.

Held on Wednesday, Aug. 19 through Zoom, the Workplace Mental Health Conference discussed many ways employers can help their workers in managing their mental health.

Through online presentations and a panel discussion, speakers discussed barriers employees may have to their usual ways of coping, and how employers can make sure work is manageable, safe and meaningful.

Attendees were given tips on managing depressed workers, designing mentally healthy workspaces and psychologically safe work, and equipping managers to effectively support employees during and after the pandemic.

The conference was tailored to assist employers and businesses as rates of depression, anxiety and alcohol abuse have increased due to the pandemic. The event also acted as a way to show how current research in academia can help meet corporate needs.

Speakers included Debra Lerner, Program Director of the Tufts Medical Center Program on Health, Work and Productivity; Dr. Sagar V. Parikh and Dr. Michelle B. Riba, U-M Depression Center Associate Directors; speakers and specialists from the U-M; and other guest panelists.

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*Workplace Mental Health Conference 2020 - Recap

Led by the Mental Health in the Workplace Consulting team together with a multidisciplinary committee of experts, the U-M Depression Center hosted its inaugural Workplace Mental Health Conference online in August 2020. Given the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, each of the conference’s sessions was centered around the theme “Supporting Employees in the COVID-19 Era.” The event featured keynote speaker Debra Lerner, MSc, PhD, and aimed to examine mental health challenges and solutions from both a corporate and academic perspective. A multidisciplinary group of nearly 150 employers and leaders from diverse industries, researchers, and mental health professionals signed up to learn about the impact of COVID-19 on employee mental health, as well as real-world strategies to support their teams moving forward.

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Read more about this topic here: Mental Health in the Workplace During COVID-19: How Can Employers Help?