The Make It OK campaign in Iowa, led by the Healthiest State Initiative, has announced a new way for employers across the state to take action to end mental illness stigma in their workplace.

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The Make It OK: Employer Toolkit is available to workplaces who register their organization on the Make It OK website.

Upon registration, employers will receive the digital toolkit which includes a step-by-step guide to implementing Make It OK within an organization and includes links to additional resources.

MAKE IT OK: Register your workplace to get started

“Stigma prevents people from struggling with mental illness from seeking the help they deserve. This leads to increased absenteeism and lower productivity rates for Iowa businesses,” said Jami Haberl, executive director for the Healthiest State Initiative. ”Employers across the state are eager to get their hands on these resources so they can begin to address stigma within their organizations.”

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Make It OK is a national campaign to reduce stigma by starting conversations and increasing understanding about mental illness. The campaign was created and launched by HealthPartners in Minnesota in 2012 before being introduced to Iowa in May 2019. In just eight months, the Make It OK message has already reached more than 2,000 Iowans and 165 Make It OK Ambassadors have been trained.

TAKE THE PLEDGE: End mental illness stigma in Iowa

The Make It OK: Employer Toolkit guides organizations through the Make It OK campaign, including engagement tips, action planning, and measurement tools. Additional benefits to signing up as a Make It OK Registered Workplace include access to newsletters, additional resources, knowledge exchange with other organizations and statewide recognition for the Make It OK efforts.

“Many Iowa workplaces have robust wellness programs that focus on physical health. But an employee’s mental health should be equally important,” said Becky Woody, VP of HealthPartners UnityPoint Health. “Make It OK helps foster workplace environments that support the whole employee.”

Make It OK in Iowa is sponsored by Delta Dental, HealthPartners UnityPoint Health, MercyOne Des Moines, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, Polk County Board of Supervisors and United Way of Central Iowa.