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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Salt Lake Chamber's social impact foundation, Utah Community Builders, has teamed up with community leaders to bring a first-of-its-kind wellness resource: industry-specific mental fitness guides.
The new guides were created specifically for the hospitality, law, and construction industries, applying the concepts of the Suicide Prevention in the Workforce Employer Toolkit to each sector with industry-specific data, best practices and actionable steps for business. The guides are available for companies to use at no cost in order to promote the wellness of all Utahns.
"We recognize the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the mental and emotional wellness of Utah's workforce," stated Salt Lake Chamber CEO and President Derek Miller, along with co-chairs Clark Ivory and Lisa Eccles. "Together, we can save lives and ensure Utah's workforce is resilient, mentally and emotionally fit, and ready for the challenges and opportunities of the future."
"Living Well in Law," "Total Safety" and "Resilience in Hospitality" were made possible by community partnerships with leaders in the industries, including the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition, Utah Restaurant Association, Associated General Contractors of Utah and the Utah State Bar. The guides aim to reduce the stigma and ensure mental health resources are available to all those who need them.
"The stigma and shame associated with mental health permeate all levels of society. Stigma keeps people from seeking the treatment they need, robs them of their joy in life and well-being, and, in the worst case, results in ultimate harm," explained Mark Hyman Rapaport, MD, CEO of the Huntsman Mental Health Institute.
Across all industries, 72% of employers know that suicide prevention is the right thing to do and 86% want to increase employee well-being. The Salt Lake Chamber hopes that the release of these guides will be the first step for many businesses to engage in practices to improve their employees' emotional and mental health.
To learn more or download the guides, click here.
