United Kingdom-based newspaper The Guardian recently ran this headline: “UK to tackle loneliness crisis with cash injection. More than 120 projects will receive funding to help those affected and reduce stigma.” This reminded me of a book written in 2000, “Bowling Alone,” by Robert D. Putnam.

Some 800,000 furloughed federal employees – along with government contractors and business owners who rely on federal workers – are feeling increasingly stressed out by the partial government shutdown, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

Most of us have had at least one boss who tells workers to “leave their personal problems at the door!” But that advice was never very realistic. And in this day of texting, social media, and a phone in everyone’s pocket, it’s even less likely. The communication age makes it more important than ever to make stress management a high priority both to keep workers safer and to avoid hits to your company’s bottom line.

Most all of us have been around a boss or supervisor who isn’t very likeable or open to feedback. He or she is often avoided, and people may even fear approaching that boss with a safety-related concern or idea for improvement. Workers who perceive their bosses as open believe their leader really listens to their ideas and acts upon them when appropriate — or at the very least, gives their ideas a fair shake.

Job stress, a poor work-life balance and debt from student loans may be factors contributing to the increase in suicide among veterinarians - a trend that has spanned more than three decades. That’s according to a new CDC study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA)External.

Trying to find something good in a bad situation appears to be particularly effective in reducing anxiety the less money a person makes, possibly because people with low incomes have less control over their environment, according to research published by the American Psychological Association (APA). “Our research shows that socioeconomic status has a powerful effect on whether reframing a situation can reduce anxiety, both in the short term and the long term,” said Claudia Haase, PhD, of Northwestern University and co-author of the study.

Sexual harassment claims are on the rise, with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) reporting more than 7,600 in 2018 (based on preliminary data). Training is a company’s first line of defense against harassment; however, studies show traditional sexual harassment training is ineffective.

Training managers to empower their teams to take care of their mental health, while recognizing the signs of mental health disorders, is critically important to workplace well-being, according to a new report, titled Mental Health: A Workforce Crisis. To help employers support their employees, this new report summarizes the evidence on workplace mental health intervention effectiveness and provides insights from a national survey of employee perceptions on how mental health is supported in the workplace.

Sometimes, things just don’t work out. It might not be anyone’s fault — or perhaps you feel strongly that it is entirely someone’s fault — but regardless, regularly working with outside contractors brings about the occasional conflict. But should a conflict arise, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a situation is beyond all repair.

A new form of training is aimed at countering physician burnout – a mental health issue which has emerged as a significant problem in the U.S. for both the medical professionals who suffer from it and the patients whose care may be affected by it. Physician burnout may lead to errors in care that can raise the cost of both health care – potentially putting it beyond some patients’ means – and malpractice insurance.