Coping With the Stress of War in the Workplace

National Mental Health Association
Tuesday, 25 March 2003

Mental Health Experts Offer Tips for Employers and Employees

The onset of war with Iraq and ongoing threat of terrorist attacks, have made focusing on "business as usual" extremely difficult. The National Mental Health Association offers tips for employers and employees on coping with the stress of war.

"Each person reacts differently to crisis and a range of responses can be expected," said Michael Faenza, President and CEO of NMHA. "The emotional impact on employees may play out in their performance and productivity, which could lead to missed deadlines, absenteeism or working too much."

Here are some steps employers can take to work through this time of uncertainty:

• Educate your supervisors and managers. Inform all supervisors and human resource professionals about crisis-response policy changes, the signs of emotional distress and available counseling resources.


• Provide educational resources. Make sure to have up-to-date mental health provider listings and information about accessing care.


• Facilitate communication among employees. Support from colleagues can help people work through difficulties. Provide a comfortable environment in which employees can break periodically from work to talk.


• Promote tolerance. Tell employees that you will not tolerate hostility directed at members of specific ethnic or religious groups in the workplace, among your customers or in the community.


• Consider bringing a professional counselor/facilitator on-site. A professional can help you identify and get help to those most in need.


• Consider temporary changes in leave and travel policies. Allow people to take time off to take part in community activities or to address personal needs. Tell employees about any short-term travel policy changes and reassure them that their safety is top priority.

Following are some tips for employees:

• Know what to expect of yourself. You may not be prepared for the intensity of your emotions. If your feelings are too much to bear, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.


• Talk with your co-workers and listen patiently. If you feel grief, anxiety or anger, you are not alone.


• Take care of yourself. Eat well, get plenty of rest and exercise, spend time with those closest to you, and postpone major life decisions and other significant stressors if you can.


• Accept that life will go on. Acknowledge that everyday life will be altered in some way, but maintain continuity as much as possible. Continuing everyday routines helps with healing.

Copies of NMHA's fact sheets on helping employees and employers cope with stress, terrorism, violence and fear are available online at www.nmha.org or by calling NMHA's Resource Center at 800-969-NMHA (6642). In addition, NMHA has nationally recognized mental health experts available for interviews on coping with crisis and workplace related mental health issues.
The National Mental Health Association is the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide, NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans through advocacy, education, research and service.

For more information, or to contact National Mental Health Association, see their website at: www.nmha.org