Report page 63

If an individual of concern is employed, the BTAU may help the individual identify and leverage resources offered by their employer.

Coordinating resources offered through an individual’s employer should be done tactfully and in collaboration with the individual so as not to unnecessarily create additional challenges in the workplace.

Employer-offered resources vary widely between smaller, local companies and larger corporations.

Nevertheless, the BTAU may encourage the individual to access available employment resources (e.g., employment assistance programs).

As well, it can be helpful to know if an individual was previously employed as a member of the armed services because the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a variety of recourses and supports to eligible veterans.

Employers can support management by: • providing employee assistance programs (EAPs) to support and counsel individuals experiencing work/life challenges; • providing short-term mental health counseling; • providing substance use treatment; • providing financial counseling; • providing alternative dispute resolution; • offering wellness and resiliency programs; • identifying workplace mentors to model and promote prosocial behavior and professional success; and • pursuing safe termination practices when termination is necessary (e.g., offering job placement services, severance packages, or extended healthcare coverage).

In some cases, connecting an individual with mental health evaluation and treatment services may be one of the most valuable strategies for a BTAU to pursue.

Still, it should be noted that a mental health evaluation is not a substitute for a behavioral threat assessment and that mental health treatment is not a substitute for behavioral threat management.

Newly established BTAUs should catalogue the mental health services and resources available in their communities and initiate proactive outreach to establish working partnerships with them.

In addition to private treatment providers, individuals of concern may also be able to access free, charitable, and other community-based treatment programs.

When utilizing mental health services as an intervention, the BTAU should strategize directly with the individual, their family, and the local mental health professionals on how to best maintain treatment compliance.