Promoting employee wellbeing and preventing non-clinical mental health problems in the workplace: a preparatory consultation survey
Abstract Background Small 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 workp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-023-00378-2 |
| _version_ | 1797555598068285440 |
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| author | Evelien Coppens Bridget Hogg Birgit A. Greiner Charlotte Paterson Lars de Winter Sharna Mathieu Johanna Cresswell-Smith Birgit Aust Caleb Leduc Chantal Van Audenhove Arlinda C. Pashoja Dooyoung Kim Hanna Reich Naim Fanaj Arilda Dushaj Katherine Thomson Cliodhna O’Connor Ana Moreno-Alcázar Benedikt L. Amann Ella Arensman |
| author_facet | Evelien Coppens Bridget Hogg Birgit A. Greiner Charlotte Paterson Lars de Winter Sharna Mathieu Johanna Cresswell-Smith Birgit Aust Caleb Leduc Chantal Van Audenhove Arlinda C. Pashoja Dooyoung Kim Hanna Reich Naim Fanaj Arilda Dushaj Katherine Thomson Cliodhna O’Connor Ana Moreno-Alcázar Benedikt L. Amann Ella Arensman |
| author_sort | Evelien Coppens |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Small 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. Methods A 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. Results Measures 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. Conclusions The 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:49:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-58f1a693650540f8a13c22e9d30a32d9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1745-6673 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:49:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
| spelling | doaj.art-58f1a693650540f8a13c22e9d30a32d92023-11-20T11:21:04ZengBMCJournal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology1745-66732023-08-0118111510.1186/s12995-023-00378-2Promoting employee wellbeing and preventing non-clinical mental health problems in the workplace: a preparatory consultation surveyEvelien Coppens0Bridget Hogg1Birgit A. Greiner2Charlotte Paterson3Lars de Winter4Sharna Mathieu5Johanna Cresswell-Smith6Birgit Aust7Caleb Leduc8Chantal Van Audenhove9Arlinda C. Pashoja10Dooyoung Kim11Hanna Reich12Naim Fanaj13Arilda Dushaj14Katherine Thomson15Cliodhna O’Connor16Ana Moreno-Alcázar17Benedikt L. Amann18Ella Arensman19LUCAS Center for care research and consultancy, KU LeuvenCentre Fòrum Research Unit, Hospital del Mar Research InstituteSchool of Public Health, University College CorkNursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Research Unit (NMAHP-RU), University of StirlingPhrenos Center of ExpertiseAustralian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention & W.H.O Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith UniversityFinnish Institute for Health and WelfareNational Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentSchool of Public Health, University College CorkLUCAS Center for care research and consultancy, KU LeuvenSchool of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Population Health, Global Public Health, Public Health EnglandEuropean Alliance Against Depression E.VDepression Research Centre, German Depression FoundationPer Mendje Te ShendosheCommunity Centre for Health and WellbeingInternational Association for Suicide PreventionNational Suicide Research FoundationCentre Fòrum Research Unit, Hospital del Mar Research InstituteCentre Fòrum Research Unit, Hospital del Mar Research InstituteSchool of Public Health and National Suicide Research Foundation, University College CorkAbstract Background Small 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. Methods A 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. Results Measures 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. Conclusions The 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-023-00378-2Barriers and facilitatorsConstructionGenderHealthcareInformation and communication technologies (ICT)Mental health |
| spellingShingle | Evelien Coppens Bridget Hogg Birgit A. Greiner Charlotte Paterson Lars de Winter Sharna Mathieu Johanna Cresswell-Smith Birgit Aust Caleb Leduc Chantal Van Audenhove Arlinda C. Pashoja Dooyoung Kim Hanna Reich Naim Fanaj Arilda Dushaj Katherine Thomson Cliodhna O’Connor Ana Moreno-Alcázar Benedikt L. Amann Ella Arensman Promoting employee wellbeing and preventing non-clinical mental health problems in the workplace: a preparatory consultation survey Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology Barriers and facilitators Construction Gender Healthcare Information and communication technologies (ICT) Mental health |
| title | Promoting employee wellbeing and preventing non-clinical mental health problems in the workplace: a preparatory consultation survey |
| title_full | Promoting employee wellbeing and preventing non-clinical mental health problems in the workplace: a preparatory consultation survey |
| title_fullStr | Promoting employee wellbeing and preventing non-clinical mental health problems in the workplace: a preparatory consultation survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Promoting employee wellbeing and preventing non-clinical mental health problems in the workplace: a preparatory consultation survey |
| title_short | Promoting employee wellbeing and preventing non-clinical mental health problems in the workplace: a preparatory consultation survey |
| title_sort | promoting employee wellbeing and preventing non clinical mental health problems in the workplace a preparatory consultation survey |
| topic | Barriers and facilitators Construction Gender Healthcare Information and communication technologies (ICT) Mental health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-023-00378-2 |
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