Did you know that out of the 124 federal employees who died on the job in 2018, 28% was by suicide? AFGE takes our members’ mental health seriously. That’s why AFGE Women’s and Fair Practices Departments are offering a new class that would help union members take care of ourselves and each other by identifying and responding to mental health challenges.
The Health, Safety, and Emotional Well Being class will be offered at our union’s Human Rights Training conference to be held in Maryland on July 31-Aug. 4, 2023.
It will include Mental Health First Aid, a course where attendees will learn how to respond to signs of mental illnesses and help co-workers who may be struggling. This new tool in the AFGE activist toolkit would make a huge difference in our union’s ability to serve our members in time of need.
“Employees in many different occupations experience the negative effects of work-related stress, which threatens employee well-being and can lead to burnout. Employers need to recognize and address mental health as an occupational health issue and work towards reducing workplace stress,” said AFGE Health and Safety Specialist Milly Rodriguez.
Need to take care of your mental health now?
As a federal employee, you are entitled to different kinds of leave to take care of your mental health. According to the Office of Personnel Management, here are your options:
For mental health services for you or your family members, check out Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) health plans.
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