Youth Employment

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.

• Anti-discrimination laws and reasonable accommodations for workers with mental health conditions
• Accommodations for workers with mental health conditions
• Mental health accommodation solutions from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

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?
  • Guide for Federal Managers, Supervisors, and Employees

  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.

  • Suicide prevention poster
  • Five things to know about suicide prevention (video) – NEW
  • Role of employers in preventing suicides poster (Español) – NEW
  • Preventing suicide in the construction industry
  • Veteran Suicide Prevention training: VA S.A.V.E.

  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
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