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The Aurora Beacon News notes that “Mental health issues often carry a stigma that workplace wellness plans need to address.”

The piece quotes Interactive Health director of behavioral health Dr. Colleen Fairbanks, who says: “Emotional health conditions cost employers in direct health care costs and indirect costs associated with lost productivity and disability costs.”

Fairbanks adds: “Treatment for common conditions is effective 80 percent of the time, yet only 33 percent of people who need help receive it due to societal stigma, fear of repercussions at work and lack of access to quality affordable treatment.”

In preparing for an upcoming conference on the issue, Alexis Slivka, health initiative coordinator at the Kane County Health Department explained how a well run wellness program benefits employees: “We want to inform employers how their companies can benefit by investing in a workplace wellness program. By investing in a wellness program, employers can lower absenteeism and reduce their health care costs.”

The piece notes that “a panel discussion will address issues from the perspectives of large and small employers, employee assistance programs, wellness initiatives and financial stability topics such as helping employees prepare for retirement.”