“At the time, an incredible stigma still dogged LGBTQ Americans, despite a push for social change prompted by such incidents as the Stonewall riots in 1969 in New York City. In that era, it was very common to lose friends and become estranged from family, and that social loss can impact LGBTQ adults for years, leading to physical and emotional decline.”
“The percentage of LGBTQ older adults with self-reported symptoms of depression increased to 13.5%, almost 3 times more than during the pre-pandemic experience.
…
These disparities can be understood as a consequence of minority stress from multiple negative experiences and traumas encountered over the course of their lifetime, for example, stigma, discrimination, sexism, heterosexism, and rejection from family, etc.”
“Wisconsin eating disorder specialists have seen an influx of patients during the pandemic, along with a spike in people seeking other mental health services. They're seeing new clients, along with people in recovery who are suffering flare-ups because of factors linked to the pandemic.
Weight stigma threatens psychological and physical health, according to National Eating Disorder Association data. Worrying about how one looks compounds fears of losing a job, getting sick or a loved one catching the virus to conjure up a mixture of anxiety.”
“African Americans have historically faced stigma related to mental health… Events centered around racial injustices and even the COVID-19 pandemic continue to bring conversations around mental health access for African Americans to the forefront of national dialogue. This need is further perpetuated as African Americans continue to experience racism, discrimination, and inequity — all of which can significantly affect a person’s mental health,”
“Age-old disparities in mental health treatment, coupled with implicit bias among providers and die-hard myths among African Americans, had experts worried long before the shockwaves sent by the pandemic, job loss and images of Floyd begging for his life on a Minneapolis street. But the ongoing need for social distancing to prevent spreading the coronavirus – along with restrictions on important community spaces like barber shops, beauty parlors and churches – are making the crisis even worse.”
“According to Mental Health America, the food and beverage industry is among the top three “unhealthiest” workplace industries, as judged according to workplace environment, stress and employee engagement.”
Recognizing this growing need amidst the ongoing Coronavirus epidemic many restaurant chains are adding mental health benefits for their employees
"As we navigate various transitions over the coming months and years, leaders are likely to see employees struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, and PTSD. Those mental health experiences will differ according to race, economic opportunity, citizenship status, job type, parenting and caregiving responsibilities, and many other variables."
While we expect a continued increase in employees accessing mental health services, this guide serves to provide information to upper management on how to support their staff and reduce stigma in the workplace.
"Black and brown workers are overrepresented on the front lines as “essential” workers in low-status, low-wage service occupations in the U.S. Their greater exposure increases vulnerability of contracting and dying from the disease. This dynamic showcases the longstanding reality of occupational segmentation, as certain demographic segments have the privilege of “sheltering” in protected environments (i.e., working from home), while others remain exposed in more dangerous and lower paying roles."
Employees of color face additional race related stigma when it comes to labor rights and protections. Find out more about how this has worsened in the age of COVID-19.
"Business can have a particularly strong role to play in preventing and combating stigma at this time. Company management and human resources departments need to understand the dangers of exclusion and stigmatisation, and double-check that their policies have no potentially negative impacts."
This article provides an in-depth understanding of what the role is of businesses in combating stigma and a plan on how to make it happen.
