For the last two decades or so, the APA has been compiling corporate, government, and academic studies relating to mental health issues in the workplace. While the statistics are generally sobering, specks of optimism emerge.

2010 APA Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award winners reported an average turnover rate of 9 percent, compared to 41 percent nationally. Only 30 percent of employees at the winning companies reported chronic work stress, compared to 41 percent nationally. Winning companies reported employee job satisfaction at 73 percent, compared to 65 percent nationally.
In a study of 24 publicly traded companies, those with high morale outperformed similar companies in their same industries by almost 2.5 to 1, while the stock prices of companies with medium or low morale lagged behind their industry peers by more than 1.5 to 1.
Eighty-five percent of employees who participated in a wellness program in the past three years agreed that the programs are effective in promoting good health.
A 2010 report found that companies with the most effective health and productivity programs achieved 11 percent more revenue per employee, delivered 28 percent higher shareholder returns, and had lower medical trends? and fewer absences per employee compared to companies with less effective or no programs.
Companies with high morale outperformed industry peers by a factor of 2.5 to 1, according to a 2006 study, which also found that the stock prices of firms with medium to low morale fell behind industry peers by more than 1.5 to 1.

Whether they've been willing to do anything about it or not, companies large and small have long been aware of the deleterious effect a troubled employee can have on corporate productivity and organizational harmony and morale. Even a good employee just having a bad day can gum things up for co-workers.

Instant Insights /

Mental illness takes toll on businesses

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