It is estimated that about one in five Americans will experience a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. It is extremely likely you will encounter someone in your workplace who lives with a diagnosed mental disorder. In addition, you will encounter others who are experiencing distress, facing a mental health challenge, or struggling with substance use issues and yet these concerned are rarely addressed, but instead talked about in hushed tones around the office. Why? “The last great stigma is the stigma of mental illness.” - Tipper Gore A former executive stated, “Where I worked, if you had a heart problem or cancer, you’d never find a more sympathetic, supportive group of people...but for years I had to be secretive about my mental illness because I was in control of millions of dollars of the corporation’s assets, and I couldn’t run the risk of having my judgment mistrusted.” - Paul Gottlieb, Publishing Executive Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to individuals seeking treatment, and therefore is one of the biggest barriers to recovery. This interactive presentation will: • Expand awareness of the prevalence and impact of mental health issues on organizations • Gain valuable insight from contact with productive employees who live with a mental illness through videos and case studies of real people sharing their experiences • Address common misconceptions regarding mental illness • Enable us to recognize symptoms of common mental health problems, offer and provide initial help, and to guide a person toward appropriate treatment and other supportive help • Challenge us to consider if an individual with performance issues is struggling from invisible disabilities • Discuss how to create a more sensitive and inclusive workplace that reduces mental health stigma