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WWHF Annual Dialogue
4th Annual Dialogue - Crafting a Healthier Workforce: The Impact of Mental Health and What We Can Do to Effect Change Tuesday, September 15, 2009,
Impact of Anxiety & Depression in the Workplace - David Katzelnick, MD Removing Barriers to Mental Health Access - Jeff Kluever The Prevention of Depression - John Weaver, PsyD The Annual Dialogue is a forum which brings together nationally known health care specialists, legislators, business owners, state leaders and the public to discuss the prevalence and economic impact of health conditions and behaviors. This year, employers, health care providers, people with mental illnesses and researchers will present information in an interactive panel discussion about the significant impact of mental health and mental illnesses in the workplace. Strategies to effect change by reducing stigma and removing barriers to care will also be discussed. Stress-related conditions and clinical depression are leading economic burdens in business and industry. Employees all too frequently identify job stress as the major cause of stress in their lives resulting in absenteeism, job impairment and increased medical illnesses. A recent study found that employers who focus only on medical and pharmacy costs may misidentify the health conditions that most impact the productivity of their employees. Wisconsin employers and employees must work together to contain healthcare costs, safeguard the health of employees and assure the strength of the “bottom line” of Wisconsin businesses. To address this issue the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation’s (WWHF) will be holding our 4th Annual Dialogue, “Crafting a Healthier Workforce: The Impact of Mental Health And What We Can Do to Effect Change” on September 15, 2009 at the Monona Terrace in Madison. By creating a base of knowledge on the topics of mental health and mental illness; exploring the issues challenging workplace mental health; and, identifying the action steps that must be taken by the stakeholders to effect change and improve conditions for people with mental illness and their families, employers can then improve their bottom line through increased productivity, attendance and retention; and, employees and their families can experience enhanced quality of life and lower health care costs. The Annual Dialogue will feature two workshops. The Charles E. Kubly Foundation will sponsor The Prevention of Depression in the Workplace workshop led by John Weaver, PsyD. This workshop will offer practices to avoid depression, promote stress hardiness, overcome stigma, and foster a mental-health-friendly workplace. A Licensed Psychologist who received his Doctor of Psychology degree from the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology, Dr. Weaver also has a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Marquette University and a Master of Divinity degree from St. Francis School of Pastoral Ministry. He works both as a clinical psychologist and a business consultant with more than 20 years of practical experience with organizations, individuals and groups. He is the author of several articles for business publications and is co-founder and owner of Psychology for Business, bringing the applied psychology to business and industry. Dr. Weaver recently published a new book, The Prevention of Depression: A Missing Piece in Wellness. A second workshop, Employer Experience Offering Mental Health Parity, will feature Jeff Kluever, Risk Manager with Journal Communications, as he discusses the return on investment experienced by his employer when mental health benefits were offered equally to physical health benefits. |
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