HR Florida State Council Announces Partnership with
National Alliance on Mental Illness
World-renowned Organization to Collaborate with HR Florida to Encourage Workplace Diversity
Tampa, Fla. – HR Florida State Council, the premier resource for best practices serving the public and HR professionals in the state of Florida, has announced its newest partnership with NAMI Florida (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to bring awareness of mental health issues in the workplace through its latest pledge – Stigma Free Florida. Companies and individuals throughout the state are encouraged to sign the pledge as part of May’s National Mental Health Awareness Month.
Part of the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for those affected, NAMI Florida will host the initiative through its website to serve as a platform for business and organization leaders to show their support and make a commitment to promote mental health awareness. By signing the pledge, businesses are committing to reviewing wellness and employee assistance programs to ensure mental health coverage is granted, communicate the importance of recognizing these challenges in the workplace to all employees, and provide education to employees on mental health issues.
“HR Florida was looking for a way to expand the concept of diversity into a broader arena,” said HR Florida State Council Diversity Director Eve Sweeting. “Both physical and mental disabilities impact a large portion of the population. As HR professionals, it is imperative that we understand how best to accommodate individuals dealing with these often overlooked issues at work.”
State leaders will work with NAMI Florida and its affiliates to increase knowledge and expertise around employee mental health – the mission being to change perceptions and attitudes within workplaces regarding these illnesses. Reducing the stigma around mental health can benefit both employees and employers, helping them improve productivity and receive needed assistance.
“HR Florida State Council is committed to facilitating a welcoming work environment that is accepting of all employees throughout the state,” said HR Florida State Council President Lynnette Holsinger. “We believe our partnership with NAMI and the Stigma Free pledge will help do just that.”
The pledge will launch this May in conjunction with National Mental Health Awareness Month. For more information on how to participate, visit the National Alliance on Mental Health website.
About HR Florida State Council
Representing over 14,000 human resource professionals and 6,300 Florida employers, HR Florida State Council is the state affiliate for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). HR Florida facilitates services and programs for the collective interest of the state's SHRM and local chapter membership, and promotes activities that serve and advance the human resources profession. Its primary objective is to support the mission and initiatives of SHRM through education. HR Florida is a 100 percent volunteer organization consisting of 28 SHRM-affiliated chapters across the state. For more information, go to HRFlorida.org, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
About NAMI Florida
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI Florida houses 29 local affiliates, which work with volunteers to raise awareness and provide support and education. Learn more here, on Facebook and on Twitter.