Business Case

Mental illness and substance abuse annually cost employers an estimated $80 to $100 billion in indirect costs alone.1 The good news is that treatment works. The majority (65% to 80%) of individuals with mental illness will improve with appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing monitoring.2,3
    
Investing in a mentally healthy workforce is good for business. When employees receive effective treatment for mental illnesses, the result is lower total medical costs, increased productivity, lower absenteeism and presenteeism, and decreased disability costs.

Armed with research and data, many employers today recognize that there is there is strong business case for investing in the programs and services necessary to create a mentally healthy workforce. Our goal is to provide you with tools and resources to make the business case at your company and take action advance mental health at your company.
    [1] Finch, R. A. & Phillips, K. (2005). An employer’s guide to behavioral health services. Washington, DC: National Business Group on Health/Center for Prevention and Health Services. Available from: www.businessgrouphealth.org/publications/index.cfm 
    [2] U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1999). Mental health: A report of the Surgeon General - Executive summary. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. Available from: www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/toc.html
    [3] Hosman, C. M. H., & Janè-Llopis, E. (2005). The evidence of effective interventions for mental health promotion. In World Health Organization - Promoting Mental Health: Concepts-Emerging Evidence-Practice. (pp. 169-188). Geneva, Switzerland: WHO. Available from: www.who.org/publications  

Resources

Business Case for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Literature Review

There is a compelling business case for effective treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. Access to quality mental health/addiction care - sometimes called behavioral health care - is essential because of the high prevalence of these conditions in the workplace and their impact on other health care costs and the corporate bottom line when left untreated.

A Mentally Healthy Workforce - It's Good for Business

Most employers know that a mentally healthy workforce is linked to lower medical costs. What employers may not know is how to get from A to B: How does a company change a mentally unhealthy workplace into a healthy workplace? The Partnership provides some insight into that question with this publication.

An Employer’s Guide to Behavioral Health Services

Produced by the National Business Group on Health, this publication provides an overview of employer-sponsored behavioral health services and recommendations for evaluating, designing and implementing behavioral health services.

An Employer's Guide to Workplace Substance Abuse: Strategies and Treatment Recommendations

Also from the National Business Group on Health, this publication provides information to help employers understand addiction, the prevalence of substance use disorders among working adults, and the costs associated with substance use disorders.