As you may already know, May is Mental Health Awareness month and is recognized by many local and national organizations designed to bring information, resources, and support to people and employers. The numbers about the mental health crisis are staggering, as Kerry Tuttle from 1N5 shares in a recent blog post for the Workforce Innovation Center:

• 1 in 4 adults experience mental illness each year, with the number rising to 1 in 3 for adults ages 18-24

• Despite the prevalence, stigma often delays treatment by an average of 10 years 

• 66% of workers reported experiencing at least one symptom of a mental health condition last year

• Depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion per year in lost productivity.

• Evidence-based mental wellness programs deliver a $2-4 return for every dollar invested

At the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, our leadership team went through the QPR suicide prevention training with 1N5 a couple of weeks ago. It was a powerful experience to help us cultivate awareness and actionable knowledge for our organization and our personal lives. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, Refer and it teaches people without professional mental health backgrounds to recognize the signs that someone may be considering suicide, establish a dialogue, and guide the person to seek professional help. It can be a critical tool to save lives. 1N5 offers this training both in person and virtually.

Additionally, our region is rich in organizations that support individuals and employers with mental health issues including:

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southwest Ohio 

• Mental Health America of Northern Kentucky & Southwest Ohio

• United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s 211 Service

And national organizations also offer a variety of resources such as through SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Like many of you, I see the mental health challenges happening across our community. I have also been personally affected by suicide. I am encouraged that conversations about these topics have become more commonplace and that resources and professionals are more readily available to help people. Mental health issues and suicide prevention are topics that we can and should discuss with coworkers, friends and family, not just in May but whenever the needs arise.

As this month comes to a close, I hope you’ll explore these resources and consider taking action to help yourself or someone you care about. We need you and we need each other to keep enhancing this region as a place where we all belong.

The Shepherd Color Company’s roots originate in the 1920s ceramics industry, where we supplied colors for porcelain enamels. By the early 1960s, our product line had expanded to a full range of complex inorganic color pigments (CICPs) for the premium coatings and plastics markets.

Today, we are a leading global producer of CICPs. Our color pigments are an extraordinary class of inorganic pigments that offer stable, long-lasting color for many applications. They have unbeatable weatherability, heat and chemical resistance, are non-warping and easy to disperse.  

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio with sales offices in Belgium, Australia, Japan and China, along with our global distributors, we supply millions of pounds annually of our high-quality pigments and support our customers around the world. Our success is rooted in a core belief: promote people of exemplary character, deliver exceptional quality, and provide differentiated products that stand apart in the market. 

If you are looking for a career where you can brighten the lives of your community, family, and our customers, visit our open positions at www.shepherdcolor.com. A career with Shepherd Color includes a generous benefits package and competitive pay. At Shepherd Color, we brighten lives.

The Hamilton County Office of Addiction Response is dedicated to creating a healthier, safer community by addressing substance use disorder through collaboration and innovation. In partnership with the Cincinnati Chamber's Workforce Innovation Center, the Coalition's Business Pillar coordinates public and private-sector efforts to maximize the impact of our work. Together, we empower local businesses to play a pivotal role in combating the addiction crisis by fostering prevention and awareness, equipping employees with tools to recognize and address substance use, and connecting individuals to essential resources and recovery supports.

Through initiatives like Recovery Friendly Hamilton County, the Chamber has helped recruit ambassadors to champion this critical work, addressing challenges like workplace safety, productivity, and employee wellness. These partnerships underscore the vital role of business leaders in implementing solutions that support employees, enhance workplace environments, and contribute to the overall well-being of Hamilton County.

Employer Tours continue with outstanding hosts and workforce professionals learning firsthand about our region's employers, their operations, the hiring process, and what they offer to employers. 

Join us for the next tour in the program on Tuesday, June 24 from 10-11:30 a.m. at altafiber in downtown Cincinnati. This tour will give attendees a firsthand look at the recently renovated offices of one of our region's largest employers and the opportunity to explore careers and advancement opportunities within the company.

On Tuesday, July 1 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m, we have our an employer tour scheduled at the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Airport. CVG leaders will provide a tour, including multiple employers and the variety of opportunities that exist on the CVG campus. This tour is limited to 22 workforce professionals.

If you’re interested in attending these tours or any future events in the Employer Tours program, click here to register. Be sure to check in with this form regularly for updates as we add new tours to the schedule.

Want to host a tour yourself? Fill out this form and we will contact you shortly about arranging your tour. 

We are recapping all Employer Tours on the Workforce Innovation Center blog, where we can share this information with job seekers, educational institutions, and workforce partners across the region.

This program is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number 21.027 awarded to Hamilton County, Ohio by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. We are grateful to the support of the Hamilton County Commissioners in funding this program.

CINC is a program for interns and co-ops living and working in the Cincinnati region this summer. The CINC Program is designed for interns to make connections and get to know more about our region while considering future career possibilities. We do this by offering access to insights, curated content, and a series of events this summer, all for FREE!

Ensure your summer interns get the most out of their experience and get registered for the CINC kick-off event on June 12.

The Workforce Innovation Center offers a wealth of services and resources to help companies improve their business practices, create a more connected regional workforce ecosystem, and strengthen the economic prosperity of the Greater Cincinnati Region. From customized consulting services to tours of quality local employers, our services and resources are designed to assist you in addressing your workforce and talent needs, whatever they may be. Click a section below to learn more!

NEWS OF INTEREST

Building a Strong U.S. Middle Class Requires High-Productivity, High-Dignity Service Jobs - Harvard Business Review

‘Everybody’s Replaceable’: The New Ways Bosses Talk About Workers - Wall Street Journal

Alternative Routes: Skills Take Center Stage in New Workforce Push - Building Indiana Business

How much it costs to raise a child in the US - ABC News

I’m a LinkedIn Executive. I See the Bottom Rung of the Career Ladder Breaking. - New York Times

The Class of 2025 Tries to Crack a Chilly Job Market for College Grads - Wall Street Journal

How President Donald Trump Could Support Working Class Voters - TIME

How Part-Time Jobs Became a Trap - The Atlantic

The High-School Juniors With $70,000-a-Year Job Offers - Wall Street Journal

Why aren't Americans filling the manufacturing jobs we already have? - NPR