Partnership for Workplace mental Health

Sprint


 
Date of Entry: 6/6/2007 1:48:26 PM
Major Locations: US- Midwest
Overland Park, KS
Industry:
 Information
Employer Description: Sprint, which merged with Nextel in 2004, is one of the largest communication companies in the world. Beginning as a local Kansas telephone company in 1899, the company grew into one of the country’s largest independent local telephone providers.  By 1986, Sprint completed the first nationwide, 100% digital, fiber-optic network and today the company is a global leader in integrated voice and data services.
Total Number of Employees: 59,000     
Contact:
 Collier Case, Corporate Benefits Manager - 913-315-4993 collier.w.case@sprint.com
Problem Statement: Sprint participated in Kansas City’s Community Initiative on Depression (CID) led by the Mid-America Coalition on Health Care in 2001-2004. The initiative brought together employers, health care providers, health plans, and other stakeholders to address depression because of its high prevalence and the significant impact depression has on the workplace. Based on a Coalition-developed Employee Attitudinal Survey and other initial assessments, a broad-based initiative was planned to include workplace education and collaboration with the employers’ EAPs, local mental health agencies, and national groups. In 2004, as improvements were being made in the local infrastructure for depression treatment, the Coalition began to develop informational interventions in the form of communication campaigns in the workplace with the assistance of a consulting occupational therapist experienced in worksite health promotion. A model intervention was developed with optional components to allow employers to tailor their efforts to their particular work culture and communication standards. A full description of the CID can be found at the Coalition’s web site, www.machc.org.



Examples of Mental Health Innovation:
Community Partnership -
  • Brought together employers, health care providers, health plans, and other stakeholders around depression and its impact on the workplace.
  • Detailed Description

Click here for additional links and references about Sprint programs.
Community Partnership - During the CID, Sprint employed approximately 59,000 people worldwide with nearly 20,000 housed at the world headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas. Comprehensive fitness facilities and wellness programs are available to Sprint employees at the Kansas headquarters as well as a number of other Sprint facilities. All employees receive informational mailings on a variety of health topics and are eligible for health risk assessments and use of a nurse advocate line. Disease management and high-risk management support services are also available. Sprint provides medical services at an onsite clinic for helping employees with common illnesses or for assessing on-the-job injuries.

 

Components included in the Community Initiative on Depression campaign:

·         Internal planning led by Corporate Benefits Manager

·         Senior leader letter

·         Management e-mails (2)

·         Conference calls (3) to Employee Relations managers

·         Postcard to home from wellness program

·         Employee e-mail and depression pamphlet

·         Mental Health Benefit Summary

·         Employee newsletter article on depression

·         Physician presentation to employees on stress and depression available live by webcast at noon and by download later – nearly 1,800 people participated

·         Physician presentation on depression to internal managers of disability



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