Unintended Consequences of COVID-19:
The Mental Health Impact at the Workplace

No one was fully prepared for the impact of COVID-19 and few could have predicted its related consequences. While much has been learned about this highly infectious virus and organizations have taken utmost precautions for employees to safely return to work, one of the indirect ramifications of COVID-19 has been the toll it has placed on the mental health and well-being of the workforce. For months, individuals were concerned about testing positive for the virus, how to protect their family members, and ways to adjust to an entirely disruptive lifestyle. There were business and economic concerns as employees wrestled with when and if the economy and businesses would rebound and the possibility of widespread layoffs. For many this became a reality and magnified existing concerns. These circumstances created an enormous strain on mental health and well-being. It also taxed a mental health system that was already at or near capacity. The reality is an increasing number of mental health conditions and concerns are showing up at the workplace. This session is designed to explore the role mental health and well-being play in overall productivity, how to look for signs of mental health distress, and ways to offer employees access to resources and assistance they need.

Our Speaker:

Dr. Teresa Bartlett, Managing Director, Senior Medical Officer – Sedgwick

Teresa Bartlett is Managing Director, Senior Medical Officer at Sedgwick since January of 2009. As the Senior Medical Officer for Sedgwick, Dr. Bartlett is an advisor in matters affecting the design and delivery of medical management services for the company’s claims clients. She provides strategic counsel and operational support in all areas of medical management including case management, return-to-work, behavioral health interventions, medical outcomes protocols, pharmacy interventions, telemedicine and health and safety matters. Dr. Bartlett also advises on best practices to integrate the delivery of occupational and non-occupational medical services and the matters affecting healthcare as part of the claims services process.