Workplace mental health: developing an integrated intervention approach

Abstract

BackgroundMental health problems are prevalent and costly in working populations. Workplace interventions to address common mental health problems have evolved relatively independently along three main threads or disciplinary traditions: medicine, public health, and psychology. In this Debate piece, we argue that these three threads need to be integrated to optimise the prevention of mental health problems in working populations.DiscussionTo realise the greatest population mental health benefits, workplace mental health intervention needs to comprehensively 1) protect mental health by reducing work–related risk factors for mental health problems; 2) promote mental health by developing the positive aspects of work as well as worker strengths and positive capacities; and 3) address mental health problems among working people regardless of cause. We outline the evidence supporting such an integrated intervention approach and consider the research agenda and policy developments needed to move towards this goal, and propose the notion of integrated workplace mental health literacy.SummaryAn integrated approach to workplace mental health combines the strengths of medicine, public health, and psychology, and has the potential to optimise both the prevention and management of mental health problems in the workplace.

A New Online Mental Health Training Program for Workplace Managers: Pre-Post Pilot Study Assessing Feasibility, Usability, and Possible Effectiveness (Preprint)

“…As shown in Figure 2, following their use of HeadCoach, managers had significantly higher levels of self-reported confidence in communicating with employees regarding mental illness (t (22) workplace mental health [4,15].…”

“…This comes at a substantial cost to the individual, their workplace, and to the economy [4,7,[10][11][12][13][14]. In response, there is a growing focus on understanding how work can impact on mental health and how it can be addressed through workplace-based mental health and well-being interventions [5,15,16].…”

“…It is becoming increasingly recognised that an integrated approach is considered best practice in workplace mental health interventions [15]. An integrated approach incorporates strategies to prevent harm, promote positive mental health, and address mental health in the workplace regardless of the cause of the illness [15]. However, the integration of these key components has yet to become standard in manager training resulting in the dissemination of a series of uncoordinated educational programs.…”

“…Certain psychosocial working conditions have been identified as primary sources of work-related stress, which if not managed effectively can negatively impact upon workers' well-being and productivity. These include conflicting and excessive work demands, a lack of job control, organisational failure to effectively communicate with staff, and poor collegial relationships and support [15,17]. Many of these workplace risk factors can be modified through decisions and adjustments which managers are often in a position to make [18].…”

“…One explanation for this disparity in outcomes may be due to the selection of components included in training. It is becoming increasingly recognised that an integrated approach is considered best practice in workplace mental health interventions [15]. An integrated approach incorporates strategies to prevent harm, promote positive mental health, and address mental health in the workplace regardless of the cause of the illness [15].…”