Lime Connect and The Center for Talent Innovation Announce Partnership on International Study to Break the Stigma around Mental Health Conditions at Work
Study will explore how employers can fully include, and maximize the talents of, employees living with mental health conditions across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
NEW YORK, May 7, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- To commemorate Mental Health Awareness Month this May, Lime Connect and the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI) announce their partnership on an international study that will shed light on the largely invisible population of professionals living with mental health conditions. Almost one in five American adults has a mental health condition, and diagnoses for millennials, in particular, have sky-rocketed over the last few years. But previous CTI research shows that many people living with mental health conditions cover up their experiences at work, often fearing judgment and social prejudices. To break the stigma, CTI and Lime Connect will now explore how employers can fully include, and maximize the talents of, employees living with mental health conditions across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. The study is slated to publish spring 2020.
"The need to address mental health conditions is urgent. Anxiety and depression are on the rise globally, yet people are declining to disclose at work. This shows just how deep the roots of stigma about mental health conditions are buried," says Julia Taylor Kennedy, EVP at CTI. "Employers are uniquely positioned to remove the stigma, and through this research, we'll show them how."
"Employees with disabilities possess unique strengths and diverse perspectives that add value to the workplace," says Susan Lang, CEO at Lime Connect. "However, the stigma around mental health, and disabilities in general, can keep employees from disclosing and feeling fully included and supported in their role. This research is the first step in breaking down those barriers so that companies and employees are able to truly thrive."
CTI's previous study, Disabilities and Inclusion, which was co-sponsored by Lime Connect, uncovered that the majority of employees living with mental health conditions have not disclosed them at work, often fearing prejudgment from both employers and colleagues about professional capabilities. Sixty-eight percent of employees with mental health conditions expend energy repressing some part of their persona. Additionally, more than 2 in 5 employees with mental health conditions experience discrimination or negative bias.
"The lack of support for employees with mental health conditions harms not only those who have them, but also the employers who don't support them," says Pooja Jain-Link, EVP at CTI. "When employees can't be open about their conditions, they aren't able to be authentic at work—or fully contribute their unique perspectives and experiences. This means employers miss out on the value many of their employees could be bringing to work each day."
Together, Lime Connect and CTI will illuminate the unique strengths that those living with mental health conditions bring to their employers and evaluate how work in turn delivers meaningful impact for their lives. The study will also build the business case for supporting employees with mental health conditions at work, and identify the manager behaviors, workplace conditions, and specific programs that allow employees with mental health conditions to thrive in the professional workplace.
About Lime Connect
Lime Connect is a global not for profit 501(c)(3) organization that's rebranding disability through achievement by attracting, preparing, and connecting high-potential university students and professionals—including veterans—who happen to have disabilities to scholarships, internships, The Lime Connect Fellowship Program, and full-time careers with the world's leading corporations.
About The Center for Talent Innovation
The Center for Talent Innovation is a think tank that conducts research, provides advisory services to organizations on culture, inclusion, and diversity, and builds community with more than 90 member companies. With CTI, those companies are committed to a common vision: to achieve inclusion and diversity in a bias-free, global workplace that optimizes workforce potential. See more at http://www.talentinnovation.org.
SOURCE Lime Connect
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