Setting the Foundation for Well-Being: Evaluation of a Supervisor-Focused Mental Health Training

Abstract

Recent reports from across the developed world indicate that adverse mental health conditions are prevalent in society and the workplace (ABS 2009). Estimates of the financial and social impact on individual well-being dictate that organizational researchers prioritize mental health in the workplace and find ways to better support employees. Based on this, the current study aimed to evaluate the impact of a supervisor-focused mental health training intended to equip supervisors with the knowledge and skills to become advocates for their own mental health, as well as serve as a resource for employees facing mental health challenges at work. Supervisors from a financial services institution in Australia completed surveys pre-training (T1), immediately post-training (T2), and 1 month post-training (T3). Results supported an increase in supervisors’ perceived knowledge related to mental health and well-being in the workplace, as well as an increase in supervisor reports of both personally-targeted well-being behavior and employee-targeted supervisor well-being support from before to after participation in the training. Further, we found that participants’ domain specific well-being self-efficacy (i.e., personal well-being self-efficacy, supervisor-reported well-being support efficacy) was positively impacted by participation in the training and positively associated with self-reported well-being behavior and supervisor well-being support. Theoretical and practical implications of supervisor-focused mental health training are discussed.