Starting the Conversation

"I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Health-Friendly programs understand the connectedness of mental health, addiction recovery, and physical well-being. Engaged Nevada employers can offer programs and resources to support all three links in this health chain:

1. Mental health disorders can decrease job productivity, affect communication with co-workers, and sometimes even limit physical capabilities. Promoting mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and advocating stress management are fundamental for employees’ overall well-being.
2. Supportive addiction recovery policies reduce societal stigma and misunderstanding of substance use disorder. Among the benefits are an expanded labor force, increased worker well-being, decreased turnover, improved productivity, and reduced health care costs.
3. Overall well-being and physical wellness are related, making it crucial for workplaces to encourage and support healthier habits both on site and away from work.
   1. The effects of chronic health conditions in the workplace are very real. In addition to the obvious increase in health care costs, both workers and employers incur indirect costs from reduced productivity and lost work days.
   2. Encouraging personal energy balance by supporting healthier eating habits, routine physical activity, and good sleep hygiene can help workers bring their best to your organization each day.
   3. Becoming a tobacco-free workplace is a great place to start as employees may be encouraged to cease tobacco use altogether. Restricting tobacco use at work can minimize medical costs, increase productivity, and protect the health and safety of all of your workforce.