Mental Health and the Workplace | OAS Episode 264 | May 17, 2026

This episode explored mental health and behavioral health in the workplace, including the role of employers and legislators in helping people facing mental health conditions. 

Our guests included Julie Hocker, assistant secretary for Disability Employment Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor, and Michigan Representative Curtis VanderWall.

This discussion came during Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to take stock of how mental health issues can affect the workplace, communities, and families. 

Assistant Secretary Hocker addressed the scope of the problem, noting that despite a growing need, nearly 140 million Americans live in places with a shortage of behavioral health workers. She also discussed ways the federal government, states, and employers can support workers facing mental health-related issues. 

Representative VanderWall discussed legislation he sponsored to create a student mental health apprenticeship and internship program in Michigan. He explained why it was needed and his hopes for the program long-term. 

Resources

• Apprenticeship.gov
• Behavioral Health at Work policy briefs, NCSL. A series of briefs that explore policies and practices related to the behavioral health workforce and ways to remove barriers to employment for people with behavioral health conditions or related disabilities.
• Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
• Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
• Policy examples highlighted in the podcast :
  • Wyoming SB 112 (2023) provides an employee assistance program for state employees to deliver short-term counseling, legal benefits, financial benefits counseling and work-life benefits consultations.
  • Colorado SB 24-007 (2024) creates a behavioral health first aid training program for educators, law enforcement officers, first responders, military personnel and others.
  • Kentucky HB 505 (2024) to set training and registration requirements for alcohol and drug peer support specialists.
• State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED) is ODEP-funded initiative that helps states and localities advance disability employment policies through technical assistance, policy expertise, research, and peer learning opportunities. Connect with SEED at info@SEEDdisabilitypolicy.org.