Resources to assist young people
Tools to help communities, employers, and the workforce system support the mental health needs of young people
Resources for workers
Tools to help employees, unions, and worker organizations address worker mental health needs
What do I have to do?
Things employers are required to do by law
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA)
Under MHPAEA, health benefit plans that cover mental health or substance use benefits cannot impose more restrictions on those benefits than what generally applies to comparable medical or surgical benefits.
- Details about the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act
- Factsheet: Mental health and substance use disorder parity
Questions about mental health conditions and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA limits an employer's ability to ask workers disability-related questions.
*Note: Other federal and state laws may apply
Mental Health Conditions and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Under the FMLA, covered employers must provide up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave to eligible employees.
Reasonable accommodation and discrimination protections for employees with mental health conditions
Under federal law, workers with mental health conditions may be protected against discrimination and harassment at work related to their condition, have workplace confidentiality rights, and have a legal right to reasonable accommodations that can help them perform and keep their job.
What can I do to help?
Tools and tips to support your workers’ mental health
How can I help create a mentally healthy workplace?
- Mental Health in the Workforce Toolkit - NEW
- Checklist for mentally healthy workplaces
- Workplace mental health factsheet (Español)
- Mental health resources for employers
- Mental Health and the Federal Workplace: What Can I Do?
- Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion Mental Health Toolkit
- Framework for workplace mental health and wellbeing
- Support One Another Toolkit provides tips on creating a workplace culture that support mental health by talking about mental health (Español) - NEW
- "Support One Another" poster provides concrete tips for supporting co-workers
- "Working Together" poster provides an overview of steps employers and workers can take to address stress and mental health in the workplace - NEW
- "Helping Your Co-Workers and Yourself" poster offers tips on ways employers and co-workers can help each other address stress and mental health, and advice for those currently facing mental health challenges – NEW
How can I help create a recovery-ready workplace?
How can I help reduce workplace stress and fatigue?
- Workplace stress toolkit
- Workplace stress sample survey questions
- Worker fatigue resource page focuses information about the impact of demanding work schedules and measures workers and employers can take to prevent worker fatigue and fatigue-related injuries and illnesses
- Podcast on Addressing Burnout and Secondary Trauma for Veteran Service Providers - NEW
How can I help grieving workers?
How can I help prevent suicide?
Help is available. Anyone can call or text 988 or get help online here.
Resources to assist young people
Tools to help communities, employers, and the workforce system support the mental health needs of young people
- Policy Brief: Leveraging State Policy to Support Positive Mental Health and Employment for Youth with Marginalized Racial Identities
- Policy Brief: Improving Mental Health Service Delivery Including Coordinated Specialty Care for Youth with a First Episode of Psychosis
- Report: Youth Employment Programs' Capacity to Address Mental Health Needs
- Resource Guide: Youth Mental Health Resource Guide
- Training and Employment Guidance Letter: Using WIOA Youth Funds for Mental Health, and Other WIOA Youth Formula Program Guidance
- Webcast: Trauma Informed Care in the Workforce System
- Webcast: Introduction to Youth Suicide Prevention
- DOL's Youth Services Youth Mental Health Resource Hub
Check out the Youth Employment: A Foundation for Mental Health and Well-Being page for more actions that communities can take.
Resources for workers
Tools to help employees, unions, and worker organizations address worker mental health needs
- Get immediate help in a crisis
- Find support for concerns with mental health, drugs or alcohol
- Know what treatments your health insurance covers
- How to make the most of your mental health and substance use benefits
- Fact Sheet and Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the World of Work (Español)
- How Federal workers can get compensation for a mental-health illness – NEW
Worker "Know Your Rights" Documents:
- Depression, PTSD and other mental health conditions in the workplace
- Use of codeine, oxycodone, and other opioids
- Parity for mental health and substance use disorder benefits
- What is mental health parity? (video) – NEW
- How to file for and appeal denied mental health and substance use disorder benefit claims – NEW
- Understanding Your Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits – NEW
Featured Blogs and Videos
Check out previous DOL blogs on mental health topics.