While the responsibility of identifying and managing any medical condition ultimately falls to the employee, employers can provide support or find help for an employee. (Image: Shutterstock)

Americans spend much of their lives at work. At the same time, nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults lives with a mental illness. Statistically, encountering behavioral health conditions in the workplace is inevitable — it's how employers choose to understand and address them that matters.

The good news is that employer attitudes toward mental health and substance abuse are changing. More employers than ever want to provide the support their employees need. However, attempting to provide support without understanding how these conditions progress can further exacerbate an employee's condition.

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