Make It OK committee suggests considering mental health days and private spaces
An annual staff survey of Linn County employees found the county should provide training on coping skills, how to support people with mental illness, recognizing signs of suicide, and talking to employees about mental health. Suggested. (Dreams Time/TNS)
Make It OK Logo (Make it OK) (From Spring 2022 News Release)
CEDAR RAPIDS — A Linn County commission dedicated to raising awareness about the stigma surrounding mental health and resources for support is making changes to county worker benefits and improving communication to employees about mental health. It recommended that the county consider doing so.
In 2021, the Linn County Board of Supervisors approved Linn County’s registration as a Make It OK workplace, committing the county to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and helping people get the support they need. . This action has the following characteristics:
- Increase the number of Make It OK ambassadors from among county employees.
- We have established an employee mental health resource hub.
- Incorporated Make It OK overview into new employee orientation.
- Added telehealth to the county’s employee assistance program.
- We strived to provide private space in all buildings and departments.
Linn County Public Health Director Pramod Dwivedi told the County Board of Supervisors last week, “We put a lot of emphasis on physical health, but mental health always gets sidelined.” Ta. “Mental health is also a public health crisis and should be treated as such.”
Pramod Dwivedi, Director of Public Health, Linn County Public Health Department
The annual employee survey guides the committee’s priorities. This was his third iteration. The survey was conducted in January and received responses from a total of 224 people, about 30 percent of Linn County employees.
According to the results, the awareness of the Make It OK campaign increased from 40.23 percent in 2022 to 91.07 percent in 2024. At the same time, many respondents reported an increased understanding of mental health knowledge and access to resources.
Overall, results showed that survey respondents felt more aware of their mental health and resources.
“Awareness is the starting point for change,” said Katie Riesner, the county’s Make It OK steering committee chair.
Based on feedback from respondents, the commission recommended the county consider increasing mental health and personal leave, or paid leave in general. Other possibilities for improving employee benefits include increasing the mental health component of county health programs and expanding insurance mental health coverage.
Ann Carter, the county’s health equity program manager, said that feedback on PTOs may be left largely to the discretion of individual supervisors, so the county may consider streamlining its policies or modifying its communications regarding mental health benefits. He said there is a possibility. The committee also recommended a leave of absence to eliminate bias.
It was also recommended that countywide events promote team building, cross-departmental networking and value staff input. They also need training on coping skills, how to support people with mental illness, recognizing the signs of suicide and talking to staff about mental health.
Regarding private space, Carter said, “Not every department has space where someone can leave for a telehealth appointment or a private conversation.” Having a more dedicated private space could help employees avoid awkwardness when navigating the space, she says.
“We want to make Linn County a better place to work, so it’s really important that people can actually be vulnerable and share that information with us and with you,” Supervisor Kirsten Running Marquardt said. Told.
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