Employers who provide for mental health care may cultivate a better balance sheet as well as a happier lunch room. Rising health insurance costs and harsh social stigmas cause many employers to overlook workers' mental health needs, but ignoring the problem may cost more than addressing it.

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine recently reviewed 103 studies covering mental health and factors such as health care dollars spent; worker productivity, retention and absenteeism; and workplace morale. Certain studies showed that health insurance claims of workers with both mental and physical disorders were 1.7 times higher than those of workers with physical disorders alone.

This article was originally published with the title Good for Business.

Comments