Mentoring for mental health: A mixed-method study of the benefits of formal mentoring programmes in the English police force

Abstract

Recent research suggests that mentors can enhance their mentees' mental health. Yet little is known about the effect of mentoring on the anxieties of the mentors themselves. We hypothesise that mentoring programmes can have a positive impact on both mentees' and mentors' mental health. In a multi-method longitudinal study, we explore empirically the effect of a formal mentoring programme in the English police force on senior police officers' levels of anxiety. In the first step of our study, we conducted a field experiment. This experiment yielded preliminary results that suggest mentors may experience marginally lower levels of anxiety and feel as if their job is more meaningful when they participate in the mentoring programme. As a second step, we qualitatively investigated the subjective experience of the participants to explain and substantiate our findings. We found that mentoring relationships provide a unique context for mentors to discuss and normalise their concerns, to share ideas for managing anxieties, and to find more meaning in their work. We discuss our findings in terms of mentoring theory and consider their practical implications for improving mental health in the workplace.

Gratitude Expression to Supervisors and Subjective Career Success of Civil Servants: Evidence from China

“…There are at least three reasons for this: first, vocational support from supervisors can increase subordinates' job knowledge and skills, which are conducive to the improvement of competency and work performance (Chen et al, 2014), thereby promoting subordinates' subjective perception of career success. Second, psychosocial support provided by supervisors can not only increase subordinates' sense of dependence and self-efficacy but also reduce their feelings of work anxiety (Gill et al, 2018). In this case, subordinates' subjective career success may be improved.…”

Reflections of mentors and mentees on a national mentoring programme for pharmacists: An examination into relationships, personal and professional development

“…53 Another study found that mentoring relationships provide a unique context for mentors to discuss and normalise their concerns, to share ideas for managing anxieties, and to find more meaning in their work. 54 Gosh and Reio in their meta-analysis provided further evidence of the benefits of mentoring to the mentor, advancing the notion that mentoring is a collaborative rather than uni-dimensional relationship. 55 Mentors and mentees expressed favour for the presence of a systematic (formal) programme that still allowed for informal programming to take place.…”

Rôle des compétences interpersonnelles sur la détresse des enquêteurs en exploitation sexuelle d’enfants: Réflexion théorique.

“…Mots-clés : exploitation d'enfants, détresse psychologique, mentalisation, police, régulation émotionnelle Le risque de détresse psychologique chez les policiers est bien documenté (Gill et al, 2018;Liberman et al, 2002;Shane, 2010;Violanti et al, 2017). Bien que tous les policiers soient susceptibles d'éprouver de la détresse à un moment ou l'autre de leur carrière, certains d'entre eux font face à des situations particulièrement exigeantes sur le plan émotif, ce qui exacerbe ce risque.…”