Helping employees deal with the pandemic caused many companies to enhance their current mental health programs, or create new ones. In doing so, it became apparent that talking about mental health was still difficult for many people. To address the stigma that still exists, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), partnered with Psych Hub to create the Workplace Mental Health Ally Certificate.
The initiative was launched to both eliminate the stigma of mental health in the workplace and foster an organizational culture where workplace mental health can be discussed openly, helping organizations build a more complete approach to employee wellness.
“People are our most important asset, and for too long our culture has stigmatized mental health, and that’s a serious problem for our families, communities, and workplaces,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., CEO, SHRM, when announcing the certificate at SHRM's Annual Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas.
“Attention to the mental health and wellness of employees is crucial to employee retention, job satisfaction, productivity and overall success,” Taylor added. “We want all employees to realize their full potential—to be well both physically and mentally.”
The Workplace Mental Health Ally Certificate is an online learning program consisting of a series of eight multimedia courses covering common mental health conditions, substance use, suicide, safety planning, diversity and bias, and communication skills. After completing the series, HR professionals will possess more knowledge and skills to better develop empathy and support the mental health and wellness of employees and colleagues in the workplace.
The learning program delivers evidence-based training with shareable resources and is eligible for seven professional credits (PDCs). Upon completion of the certification, Psych Hub offers access to its continually expanding suite of shareable learning and informational materials designed by clinical experts.
"Everyone has a role to play in combating the global mental health crisis. It's through partnerships with leading organizations like SHRM and SHRM Foundation that we're able to develop evidence-based content specifically targeted to HR professionals and people managers," said Marjorie Morrison, CEO, Psych Hub. "Trained HR professionals can play a profound role in transforming the workplace and properly address employee mental health and well-being."