Promoting employee wellbeing and preventing non-clinical mental health problems in the workplace: a preparatory consultation survey

Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology

Research

Sharna Mathieu¹  Ana Moreno-Alcázar²  Bridget Hogg²  Benedikt L. Amann³  Arilda Dushaj⁴  Hanna Reich⁵  Dooyoung Kim⁶  Johanna Cresswell-Smith⁷  Katherine Thomson⁸  Evelien Coppens⁹  Chantal Van Audenhove⁹  Birgit Aust^1,10  Cliodhna O’Connor^1,11  Charlotte Paterson^1,12  Naim Fanaj^1,13  Lars de Winter^1,14  Arlinda C. Pashoja^1,15  Ella Arensman^1,16  Birgit A. Greiner^1,17  Caleb Leduc^1,18 

[1] Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention & W.H.O Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia;Centre Fòrum Research Unit, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain;Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto Carlos III, Madrid, Spain;Centre Fòrum Research Unit, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain;Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto Carlos III, Madrid, Spain;Institute of Mental Health, Hospital del Mar Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Klinikum Der Universität München, Munich, Germany;Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain;Community Centre for Health and Wellbeing, Tirana, Albania;Depression Research Centre, German Depression Foundation, Leipzig, Germany;European Alliance Against Depression E.V, Leipzig, Germany;Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland;International Association for Suicide Prevention, Washington, DC, USA;LUCAS Center for care research and consultancy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium;National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark;National Suicide Research Foundation, Cork, Ireland;Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Research Unit (NMAHP-RU), University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland;Per Mendje Te Shendoshe, Prizren, Kosovo;Alma Mater Europaea Campus Rezonanca, Prishtina, Kosovo;Phrenos Center of Expertise, Utrecht, the Netherlands;School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Population Health, Global Public Health, Public Health England, LondonLondon, UK;School of Public Health and National Suicide Research Foundation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland;Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia;School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland;School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland;National Suicide Research Foundation, Cork, Ireland;

关键词: Barriers and facilitators;    Construction;    Gender;    Healthcare;    Information and communication technologies (ICT);    Mental health;    Mental health promotion and intervention in occupational settings (MENTUPP);    Small and medium enterprises;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12995-023-00378-2

 received in 2023-02-01, accepted in 2023-06-30,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face major financial losses due to mental health issues affecting employees at all levels but seldom apply programs to promote wellbeing and prevent mental health issues among employees. To support the development of a multi-country workplace-based mental health intervention for SMEs (MENTUPP), a multinational consultation study was conducted. The study aimed to examine the experiences and needs of SMEs concerning the promotion of employee wellbeing, and the prevention and management of non-clinical mental health problems in workplaces.MethodsA survey consisting of open and closed questions was designed to assess key informants’ opinion about the acceptability, the use, and the implementation of interventions to promote wellbeing and prevent mental health issues in the workplace. Academic experts and representatives of SME organisations, specific sector organisations, labour or advocacy groups, and occupational health organisations across the nine MENTUPP intervention countries (eight European countries and Australia) were invited to complete the survey. Data were collected via the online platform Qualtrics. Sixty-five of 146 informants responded, representing a 44.5% response rate. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data and qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis.ResultsMeasures to create mentally healthy workplaces were most used in SMEs, while more specific mental health interventions, such as training staff on how to promote wellbeing, were hardly used. Managers lack resources to implement mental health interventions and are concerned about employees spending too much time on these interventions during working hours. Receiving information about the economic benefits of mental health interventions and hearing successful testimonials from other SMEs can persuade managers otherwise. Employees have concerns about confidentiality, discrimination and stigma, and career opportunities when using such interventions.ConclusionsThe study identifies a variety of challenges, needs and possibilities related to implementing mental health interventions in SMEs. Employers need to be convinced that investing in mental health in the workplace is worth their time and money. This requires more studies on the (cost-)effectiveness of mental health interventions. Once employers are engaged, their knowledge and competencies about how to implement such interventions should be increased and privacy concerns of employees to participate in them should be addressed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 1