Government Affairs Committee Meeting

Mental Health Issues in North Dakota,
Why the Business Community needs to be involved
Mental Illness and Substance Abuse are business related concerns. According to data gathered by the ND Department of Human Services,  nationwide there is $150 Billion  lost in productivity from untreated and mistreated mental illness.  North Dakota's statistics are striking as well.  Nearly 50,000 people had Substance Use Disorders this past year.  185,000 people indulged in binge drinking during the past month.  Nearly 37,000 adults used illicit drugs this past month.  Over 93,000 individuals had a Mental Illness and 24,000 adults have had a Serious Mental Illness in the past year, and nearly 18,000 adults have had both Substance Abuse and Mental Illness problems.  It is estimated that by 2020 Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders will surpass all physical diseases as a major cause of disability worldwide.
 
Mental Illness and Substance Abuse are serious business issues.  They increase safety risks, not only for those diagnosed with the illness, but for co-workers as well.  They negatively affect customers, vendors and service providers.  They also affect product quality, rework, and through-put.  They increase the cost of insurance, can impact employee turnover, increase cost of training, disrupt customer relations and at its worst, provide for a disruptive workplace.
 
Representative Pete Silbernagel and Dick Dever will join us to talk about what they have learned during their time serving in the North Dakota Legislature and how we can better address the mental health issues facing our state.  This issue has been brought to the business community, we have been asked to engage as it is becoming a workforce issue.  This meeting will be a chance for our membership to hear the current state of mental health services in our state, where the gaps are, and how the business community can get involved.  Whether we like it or not this issue is moving from the living room to the board room and is one that will likely grow in importance.  Please join us to offer your input.
 
Agenda:
1:30 p.m. – Introductions

• Bernie Dardis, Policy Vice Chair, GNDC

• Representative Pete Silbernagel

• Bernie Dardis, Policy Vice Chair, GNDC