Our Mission
To provide critical behavioral health services through partnerships that contribute to improved quality of life for both clients and community.
Please view our brochure for more information.
Promoting Mental Health in the Workplace
A Competitive Advantage
You're probably concerned about your employees' health and wellness. You may have an interest in promoting a healthy work environment and also worry about the expense of providing mental health coverage for your staff. These are all valid concerns.
But there are many reasons why addressing your workforce's mental health makes good business sense. A growing body of research shows that employers' costs due to staff mental health problems are far greater than just the costs on the mental health service bill.
Lower Medical Costs
The mind/body connection is undeniable. People who have untreated mental health issues use more general health services than those who seek mental health care when they need it. That translates to dramatic and unnecessary increases in your organization's healthcare bill. A few alarming facts:
Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress, and stress is linked to the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide. In fact, chronic stress may double the risk of heart attack. Both depression and chronic stress can weaken the immune system and make people vulnerable to a host of illnesses.
Reduce Absenteeism, Boost Productivity and Improve Work Quality
More than 90 percent of employees agree that their mental health and personal problems spill over into their professional lives and have a direct impact on their job performance.
Mental health conditions are actually the second leading cause of absenteeism. Some interesting statistics:
Three out of four employees who seek care for workplace issues or mental health problems see substantial improvement in work performance after treatment. According to the RAND Corporation, depression results in more "bed" days than many other medical ailments, including ulcers, diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis. Effective treatment of mental illnesses, especially depression, is associated with improved outcomes for chronic physical disorders.
Good for Workers, Good for the Bottom Line
Current data clearly support the case that employers benefit financially from paying more attention to their staff members' mental health needs. The bad news is that mental health problems are prevalent. They can strike anyone regardless of age, ethnic background, gender or socioeconomic status. Each year, in a typical office of 20 people, four will suffer from a mental health problem.
"A sound mind is a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world." --John Locke, 1693
Mental Health Treatment is Effective
The good news is that there are highly effective, cost-efficient and scientifically validated treatments for mental illness. Mental health problems actually have better treatment outcome rates than the vast majority of common medical conditions. Many corporations across the country report that promoting mental health as part of an overall wellness campaign has resulted in reduced health expenses and other financial gains for their organizations. Launching an educational program on mental health just takes a little planning and time. The staff at Peninsula Community Mental Health Center is here to help!
Log on to these free calculators to find out how depression and alcoholism are affecting your organization's bottom line:
For more information, contact Peninsula Community Mental Health Center at (360) 457-0431
CRISIS LINE (360) 452-4500 is a free community telephone crisis intervention and referral service available to anyone experiencing a crisis situation or in need of information about community resources. This is a valuable support and suicide prevention resource to anyone in need and not knowing where to turn for help in the community.
Support Groups Available
There are several Family Support groups that meet regularly in the community to share information on experiences of living with mental illness and/or behavioral disorders. This is an opportunity to learn about resources, different ways family cope with issues, and to build a support network. These groups are open to the public and have no fees associated with them:
- Every Thursday at 12 noon a Family Support Group meets at PCMHC (118 E. Eighth Street in Port Angeles), facilitated by Becky Brown, Supervisor of Community Support Team. For further information, call Becky at (360) 457-0431.
- Third Thursday of each month from 6-7 PM at Olympic Medical Center a support group is facilitated by Advocates for the Mentally Ill. Call Arlene Engel (360) 683-3496, President.
- Every Tuesday at 10 AM a support meeting for families and friends of children with special needs is facilitated by the Bridges Coordinator at the PCMHC Children's Center (located at 1004 West 16th Street in Port Angeles). For information contact Judith Libenow at (360) 582-0822.
Some self-help resources:
- 10 things you can do for your mental health.
- Key facts and statistics
- Stress checklist
Non-Discrimination Policy: No person shall be subjected to discrimination because of age, race, color, national origin, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, marital status, disabled or Vietnam-era status, or the presence of any physical, mental, or sensory disability.
