Mental Health Challenges at Work

Abstract

This symposium includes four papers that provide diverse yet complementary perspectives on mental health challenges at work. Whereas many employees face mental health challenges in the course of their employment—underscored by the fact that one in six employees have a mental illness—mental health challenges are persistently under-examined in management research. The papers in this session are diverse in their contextual focus, temporal focus (e.g., short-term challenges versus chronic mental illness) and analytic approach, yet have commonalities that serve to promote a cohesive multifaceted view of this topic. For instance, multiple papers in this session investigate the role of work-related antecedents to mental health challenges and the role of support in helping—or failing to help—those with mental health challenges. Of note, all these studies uncover nuanced and complex dynamics that underscore the futility of merely trying to “fix” employees’ mental health challenges with simplistic interventions. Following presentation of the papers, integrative commentary will be provided that suggests fruitful opportunities for future research on mental health challenges at work. Anger Trajectories and Resilience Among Combat-Deployed Soldiers Presenter: Jason Kautz; U. of Texas at Dallas Presenter: Laura Campbell-Sills; U. of California, San Diego Presenter: Paul Bliese; Darla Moore School of Business, U. of South Carolina Presenter: Robert Ursano; Uniformed Services U. Hidden from View: Leading with Depression and Anxiety Presenter: Sally Maitlis; U. of Oxford Consequences of Work Injuries on Mental Health: The Role of Social Support Presenter: Steve Granger; U. of Calgary Presenter: Nick Turner; U. of Calgary Presenter: Sandy Hershcovis; U. of Calgary Presenter: Patrick Bruning; U. of New Brunswick Social Support of Employees with Mental Illness Presenter: Emily Rosado-Solomon; California State U., Long Beach Presenter: Sherry M. B. Thatcher; U. of South Carolina Presenter: Sam Strizver; U. of South Carolina Presenter: Ron Capistrano; California State U., Long Beach