At a young age, Mark Davis-Craig had an inkling he suffered from depression. But in 2003 the 36-year-old realized casual thoughts about death had transformed into concrete suicide plans.

The decision to ask for help was a turning point for Davis-Craig, data warehouse decision support products team lead for Michigan Administrative Information Services. He contacted a counseling program, which referred him to a psychiatrist. After a medical leave, therapy and medication, he returned to work and a more balanced life.

Davis-Craig is among an estimated 54 million Americans who are affected by mental illness. In an effort to raise awareness about emotional health issues, U-M this week plans to launch Understanding U, a comprehensive program that offers information and resources for mental and emotional well-being.

Well-being to illness

Among the tools in the new program is an interactive Web site available at www.MHealthy.umich.edu. Offered as part of Michigan Healthy Community, the site contains educational content along with tools to assist with day-to-day concerns, strategies for self-care, confidential online screenings to see if symptoms indicate a more serious mental health issue, and a guide to available campus and community resources. Understanding U is designed for everyone on the mental health continuum from well-being to illness, says Associate Vice President for Human Resources Laurita Thomas.

“Understanding U helps with the general mental health challenges we all face in everyday life, ” Thomas says. “This program illustrates Michigan Healthy Community’s commitment to total health, mind and body.” The Web site also includes a tutorial for leaders and supervisors to recognize and help with mental health issues that Thomas says sometimes manifest themselves in the workplace.

U-M statistics • Antidepressants are the top pharmaceutical class at U-M by cost • Mental health diagnoses account for almost 20 percent of U-M long-term disability claims Frequently asked mental health questions Question: Is mental illness really an illness? Answer: Yes. The brain is an organ that is susceptible to illness. Chemicals in the brain regulate how people think, feel and act. Brain function can become affected if these chemicals are out of balance or disrupted, contributing to mental illness. Thus, mental illness is a real bodily illness, not just something “in your head.” Q: Does the prevalence of mental health problems differ among different racial or ethnic groups? A: No. The prevalence of mental health problems is similar for all racial and ethnic groups. Members of racial or ethnic minority groups may experience greater disability from mental health problems, however, because of difficulties in accessing culturally sensitive, good quality care. Q: Is it true that mental illness can’t be cured? A: This is a complex question. In many cases, mental illness cannot be “cured” in the sense that it will go away and never return. Most often, the symptoms of mental illness can be eliminated or reduced and managed through treatment with medication, therapy or a combination of both. Q: If someone has a mental health problem, should he or she abandon hopes for a fulfilling career? A: No. Although mental health problems can negatively affect individuals in a significant manner, with treatment and appropriate work accommodations, even people diagnosed with a serious mental illness have succeeded famously. —Source: Understanding U

One-in-five people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. The top three problems reported by U-M employees seeking assistance are psychological/emotional issues, relationship/marital/family conflict and job related concerns, according to information provided by U-M Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP) and U-M Health System Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Understanding U will promote the message that mental and emotional health concerns are common and treatable.

“The University is committed to promoting and supporting the health and well-being of its community by offering faculty, staff and their dependents high quality, accessible mental and emotional health resources and creating and fostering a healthy workplace,” says Dr. Robert Winfield, chief health officer.

Workplace support

Mental health problems significantly can impact a workplace; depression, anxiety disorders, attention deficit disorder and substance abuse are considered top emotional health issues on the job, Winfield says.

These problems can influence job satisfaction, morale and quality of life, but with the proper treatment, recovery and return to a productive life is possible.

Understanding U will help bridge that gap, says Dr. Kenneth Silk, professor of psychiatry who also co-chairs the Understanding U program advisory committee. On the new Understanding U Web site, people can find resources for professional help with a variety of mental health issues. It also offers self-care strategies to help manage stress and other common concerns.

“Our mental health deserves the same attention, consideration and care as our physical health,” Silk says. “People who are proactive about their own mental and emotional health function more effectively at work and home.”

A recent study by the National Institute of Mental Health found that depression and anxiety topped the list of reasons why adult Americans miss 1.3 billion days of work or other daily activity each year. Another study found that lost productivity and absenteeism related to depression caused an $83.1 billion loss to employers in 2000.

“I believe that as an employer it is essential to provide easily accessible emotional and mental health resources to address everyday life issues that may affect one’s own personal well-being and one’s optimum contributions to their work,” says FASAP Director Tom Waldecker. “There are many situations in life that can keep someone from being at their best at either home or work. For example, struggling with a relationship breakup, an acting-out teenager, a dying parent or partner, or coping with a mental illness, can dramatically increase one’s personal stress and cause distraction at work. Having readily accessible resources can often assist with getting someone to feel supported and back on the road to an improved health status.”

The creation of a confidential Web site can empower more staff and faculty to access and manage their own well-being with educational and self-help resources on a 24/7 basis, Waldecker adds. “They will be able to make more informed choices for their own self care.”

Finding balance

Understanding U offers tips on how to maintain emotional health. Striking a balance between work and personal life is key, says Elizabeth Rodriguiz, administrative assistant intermediate at Biologic & Materials Sciences in the School of Dentistry.

“I schedule time in my life for reading, for exercise, for creative work, and for goofing off,” says Rodriguiz, who was diagnosed with depression as a college student in 1980. “I have found that when I go a day or two without some recreational reading (and the daily newspaper doesn’t count) or a long, fast walk, my brain starts feeling jumbled.”

Finding a creative outlet also eases stress.

“This year I made only one New Year’s resolution, and that was to do something creative every day,” Rodriguiz says. “I have painted some small paintings, knitted a complicated scarf, and worked on some quilts in pursuit of keeping that resolution. By focusing on something that is my work, and that only has to meet my standards, I can slough off the pressures of other people’s expectations.”

After identifying a problem, many people often are hesitant to ask for help. Understanding U offers access to valuable information, tools and strategies that can help promote and protect mental and emotional health while reducing the stigma associated with asking for assistance.

“Know that whatever you are going through, other people have been in similar places and have triumphed,” Rodriguiz says. “Those people are no stronger and no more capable than you are. They simply had a goal of wholeness and kept focused on it.”

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