Mental Well-being Programs Research Articles

Pilot evaluation of an innovative school-based mental health literacy program for teachers and students: The Decode Mental Health and Wellbeing Program

Pilot evaluation of an innovative school-based mental health literacy program for teachers and students: The Decode Mental Health and Wellbeing Program

Awareness and use of Canadian Armed Forces mental wellbeing programs and resources among Regular Force personnel

To support broader efforts to empower military personnel to improve their health and wellbeing, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have implemented numerous mental wellbeing programs and resources. The aim of the present study was to better understand factors that may drive awareness and use of these programs/resources. Data from the Your Say Survey, which is routinely administered to CAF members to assess their perceptions of policies and programs, were analyzed to identify key predictors of awareness and use of programs and resources promoting positive mental health at the individual, unit leader, and organizational levels. The survey was completed in 2021 by a stratified random sample of 1,743 Regular Force members, which was weighted to be representative of the CAF Regular Force population. Awareness of most programs/resources that were considered was found to be quite high, whereas use was comparatively low. Results of logistic regression analyses revealed that program/resource awareness was generally lower among younger CAF members, those who were single and had no dependent children, and those who indicated their supervisors infrequently demonstrated positive behaviours around mental health. Awareness also varied depending on the organizational command in which CAF members worked. It was found that CAF members were generally more likely to have used the program/resource if they reported poorer self-rated mental health and were older. Similar to program/resource awareness, use varied significantly depending on CAF members’ organizational command. The potential implications of these findings for enhancing awareness of mental wellbeing programs and resources in the CAF, and in occupational settings as a whole, are discussed.

Not Aware or Don’t Dare! The Use and Efficacy of Employer-Sponsored Mental Wellbeing Programs

Employee well-being is a matter of significant concern for both workers and organizations. While many organizations implement costly Stress Management Interventions (SMIs) to improve employee well-being, their efforts are limited by debates as to which SMIs (if any) are effective and how “effectiveness” should be evaluated. The lack of research identifying key predictors of awareness and use of different types of SMIs makes it difficult for researchers and practitioners to draw conclusions with respect to SMI efficacy. Our research addresses these gaps in our understanding by using a contextual effects perspective and a large ( n = 1627) sample of employees working in a diversity of jobs within a single organization to identify the key predictors of employee awareness and use of five available SMIs and explore the link between use of these five SMIs and perceived stress. The following conclusions are supported by the findings from this study: (1) the organizational perceived culture is a better predictor of SMI awareness than individual employee attributes or employee well-being, (2) the predictors of SMI awareness are different from those predicting use, (3) employees who would most benefit from access to SMIs are less aware of what organizational benefits are available, and (4) predictions of awareness, use, and efficacy vary depending on SMI type. Using both theory and the results from our research we propose a comprehensive framework that conceptualizes SMI efficacy as a process not an outcome.

Proceedings from a National Summit on Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being: A Focus on the Graduate Academic Environment.

To spotlight the challenges, gaps, and opportunities to improve workforce mental health and well-being in higher education institutions (HEIs). We convened a full-day summit of subject matter experts from academia, business, government, and practice to share research and best practices on workplace mental health. Highlights from the summit are presented in this paper covering the importance of leadership and culture; the mental health costs associated with being a Black STEM scholar; the role of the environment; case studies of three university mental health and well-being programs; and the future of work. Establishing a culture of caring requires leadership commitment; strategic planning; accountability and shared responsibility; and measurement and evaluation. HEI leaders are called to lead by example; foster community partnerships; adopt a Total Worker Health framework; and regularly evaluate progress.

Not Aware or Don’t Dare! The Use and Awareness of Employer-Sponsored Mental Wellbeing Programs

Not Aware or Don’t Dare! The Use and Awareness of Employer-Sponsored Mental Wellbeing Programs

Connections between specific mental health diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder and primary substance use

PurposeThis study aims to use the database of consumers referred to the dual diagnosis shared care service to examine those connections. The Eastern Dual Diagnosis Service, based in Melbourne, Australia, has established a database of consumers with co-occurring mental health disorders and problematic substance use. An examination of mental health and substance-use information obtained over a two-year period in the delivery of dual diagnosis shared care to consumers of mental health services is supporting an improved understanding of substance use and the connections to specific mental health diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a quantitative approach to review the prevalence of primary substance use and mental health diagnoses for consumers referred to as dual diagnosis shared care. Reviewed are referrals from adult mental health community and rehabilitation teams operating within a mental health and well-being program between January 2019 and December 2020 inclusive.FindingsOf the 387 clients referred to the specialist dual diagnosis shared care, methamphetamine, alcohol and cannabis are associated with 89.4% of the primary mental health diagnosis (PMHD). The most common PMHDs are schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder. The most common PMHD and substance-use connection was schizophrenia and methamphetamine. Nicotine was reported to be used by 84% of consumers and often occurred in addition to another problematic primary substance.Originality/valueImproved dual diagnosis data collection from a community-based clinical mental health service is increasing understanding of the mental health and substance-use relationship. This is now providing clarity on routes of investigation into co-occurring mental health and problematic substance-use trends and guiding improved integrated treatments within a contemporary mental health setting.

Implementing a group-based online mental well-being program for women living with and beyond breast cancer - A mixed methods study.

There is a gap in available mental well-being services in Australia for women diagnosed with breast cancer. This pilot mixed-methods uncontrolled study aimed to assess the feasibility of an online mental health and well-being intervention, the Be Well Plan (BWP), which enables participants to create a personalized, flexible well-being strategy. Women diagnosed with stages I-IV breast cancer were recruited into 4 asynchronous groups to participate in the BWP, a 5-week facilitator-led group-based mental health and well-being program. Psychological measures used at baseline and post-intervention included: the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, Self-compassion Scale, 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, 7-item General Anxiety Disorder scale, and EORC QLQ-C30. Multivariate analysis of variance and effect sizes were calculated on pre- and post-psychological measures, followed by qualitative content analysis on post-completion interviews with participants. Nineteen women (mean age 45.7, standard deviation=7.74) were included in the study. Large effect sizes were reported for mental well-being, depressive symptoms, and anxiety (partial ω2=0.28, 0.21, and 0.20, respectively). Self-compassion, resilience, and quality of life results were not statistically significant. Qualitative content analysis provided insight into experiences with Program Delivery Experience, Application of the BWP, Mental Health Improvements, Supporter Involvement, Adopted Interventions, and Recruitment. Participants reported benefits in mindfulness, grounding techniques, and physical activities. The BWP has the potential to be an effective intervention to support the mental health and well-being of breast cancer survivors. This study highlights flexible interventions that accommodate the diverse needs of breast cancer survivors to improve mental well-being and alleviate psychological distress.

Scoping Review of Workplace Mental Health and Well-being Programs in Higher Education Institutions.

The study aimed to conduct a scoping review of stressors in higher education institutions (HEIs), exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify successful interventions. We reviewed 79 studies published between January 2020 and January 2023. Stressors were organized into psychosocial, organizational, and environmental categories. They included high job demand/low control, work/personal life imbalance, pressure to publish, lack of resources, low perceived organizational support, and fear of infection. Interventions included providing back-up childcare, employee assistance programs, financial well-being resources, paid medical leave, flexible work arrangements, greater transparency in decision making, leadership development, and adaptive physical space design. Mental health and well-being interventions directed at faculty and staff in HEIs are needed given the many stressors faced by this workforce. Several interventions are highlighted in the literature, but most are speculative regarding their impact, given the limited number of outcome studies.

Harmonizing Wellness Vibes - A Comprehensive Whole School Mental Well-being Program Proposal

Harmonizing Wellness Vibes - A Comprehensive Whole School Mental Well-being Program Proposal

Reaching Young People in Urban and Rural Communities with Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Within a Youth Sports Development Program: Integrating In-Person and Remote Modes of Service Delivery.

Embedding mental health and wellbeing programs within youth sports development programs can help provide more young people with mental health support. However, delivering such programs in multiple locations across metropolitan, regional, and rural areas requires novel solutions to overcome geographic and logistical barriers. We examined the delivery of an integrated system delivered within an Australian junior rugby league program. The program included online assessment and feedback about youth mental health, as well as connection with evidence-informed resources and referral sources via parent telephone and email support. There were four methods of delivering player workshops during training sessions: (a) In-person Delivery Only, (b) In-person + Remote Real-time (video-conferenced), (c) In-person + Remote Prerecorded (video-recorded), and (d) Remote Delivery Only (video-conferenced and/or video-recorded). In-person delivered player workshops were facilitated by local rugby league personnel. Remote delivered workshops were facilitated by psychologists from the mental health research team. Participants were 671 boys (12-15years; M age = 13.35; SD = 0.35) in 21 metropolitan, regional and rural locations. Regardless of delivery condition, players with elevated anxiety, depression and behavioural problems reported significant declines in symptoms from pre- to post-program, and those within healthy ranges did not change from pre- to post-program. Player workshop enjoyment ratings were higher in the In-person + Remote Real-time condition and the Remote Delivery Only condition than the In-person Delivery Only condition. However, non-completion of the post-program assessment across all conditions was higher than in prior studies and a comparison group of players who did not complete the program was not included. Mental health benefits may be observed across in-person and remote modes of delivering mental health workshops within youth sports programs. However, the involvement of mental health personnel, whether in-person or remotely, and mixed delivery modes, may be important for young people's retention and satisfaction.

The Effect of Job Stress and Organizational Climate on Turnover Intention with Job Satisfaction as a Mediation Variable

Human resources (HR) is a crucial aspect that determines the effectiveness of an organization. Therefore, organizations need to pay attention to the turnover rate within their companies. This research aims to determine the effects of job stress and organizational climate on turnover intention, mediated by job satisfaction. The sample of this study consists of 200 employees from a housing development company scattered across the city of Bandar Lampung. Data collection was carried out through a questionnaire using probability sampling techniques and processed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with the assistance of AMOS software. The results of the study show that job stress has a positive and significant impact on the turnover of employees in the housing development company in Bandar Lampung, while organizational climate has a negative and significant impact on employee turnover. Job satisfaction mediates the effects of job stress on turnover intention, and job satisfaction also mediates the effects of organizational climate on turnover intention. Companies can offer mental well-being support programs, open communication channels for all employees, periodically evaluate the workload of employees, and conduct interviews with employees regarding the primary reasons for the desire to leave the company. Purpose: The aim of this research is to determine the effects of job stress and organizational climate on turnover intention, mediated by job satisfaction. Patients and methods: The sample of this research consists of 135 employees from a housing development company in Bandar Lampung. Data collection was carried out through a questionnaire based on the simple random sampling method, with the sampling technique being probability sampling. Results: The results of the study show that job stress has a positive and significant impact on the turnover of employees in the housing development company in Bandar Lampung, while organizational climate has a negative and significant impact on employee turnover. Job satisfaction mediates the influence of job stress on turnover intention, and job satisfaction also mediates the effects of organizational climate on turnover intention. Conclusion: Companies can offer mental well-being support programs, open communication channels for all employees, periodically evaluate the workload of employees, and conduct interviews with employees regarding the primary reasons for the desire to leave the company.

Feasibility of a Mental Wellbeing Program for Rural Family Childcare Home Providers

Feasibility of a Mental Wellbeing Program for Rural Family Childcare Home Providers

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine's Offering of a Mental Health and Wellbeing Program (The Lift Project) to its Members - Caring for the Carers.

In the wake of COVID-19, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine offered its members an online 10-week multicomponent mental health and wellbeing program (The Lift Project), and extended the invitation to members from sister organizations associated with the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance. A total of 1785 members registered for the program, representing 39 countries. The website hosting the program recorded 9815 total visits over the 10weeks. In a post-program questionnaire completed by 145 participants, 91% agreed or strongly agreed that the program supported their mental wellbeing, and participants reported their wellbeing as higher after the program as compared to its commencement (X2 = 80.8, P < .01). Ninety-four percent of respondents indicated they would recommend the program to a friend. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses included in the post-program evaluation indicated that the participants liked: the structure of the program and content covered; the style of the video presentations; and the practical application of the program. Some participants indicated they would have liked more time to engage with the program and would have enjoyed the provision of group meetings. In conclusion, healthcare organizations can support their members' mental health and wellbeing by offering large-scale, evidence-based interventions.

Mental health and wellbeing of health and aged care workers in Australia, May 2021 - June 2022: a longitudinal cohort study.

To assess the mental health and wellbeing of health and aged care workers in Australia during the second and third years of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, overall and by occupation group. Longitudinal cohort study of health and aged care workers (ambulance, hospitals, primary care, residential aged care) in Victoria: May-July 2021 (survey 1), October-December 2021 (survey 2), and May-June 2022 (survey 3). Proportions of respondents (adjusted for age, gender, socio-economic status) reporting moderate to severe symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, GAD-7), or post-traumatic stress (Impact of Event Scale-6, IES-6), burnout (abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory, aMBI), or high optimism (10-point visual analogue scale); mean scores (adjusted for age, gender, socio-economic status) for wellbeing (Personal Wellbeing Index-Adult, PWI-A) and resilience (Connor Davidson Resilience Scale 2, CD-RISC-2). A total of 1667 people responded to at least one survey (survey 1, 989; survey 2, 1153; survey 3, 993; response rate, 3.3%). Overall, 1211 survey responses were from women (72.6%); most respondents were hospital workers (1289, 77.3%) or ambulance staff (315, 18.9%). The adjusted proportions of respondents who reported moderate to severe symptoms of depression (survey 1, 16.4%; survey 2, 22.6%; survey 3, 19.2%), anxiety (survey 1, 8.8%; survey 2, 16.0%; survey 3, 11.0%), or post-traumatic stress (survey 1, 14.6%; survey 2, 35.1%; survey 3, 14.9%) were each largest for survey 2. The adjusted proportions of participants who reported moderate to severe symptoms of burnout were higher in surveys 2 and 3 than in survey 1, and the proportions who reported high optimism were smaller in surveys 2 and 3 than in survey 1. Adjusted mean scores for wellbeing and resilience were similar at surveys 2 and 3 and lower than at survey 1. The magnitude but not the patterns of change differed by occupation group. Burnout was more frequently reported and mean wellbeing and resilience scores were lower in mid-2022 than in mid-2021 for Victorian health and aged care workers who participated in our study. Evidence-based mental health and wellbeing programs for workers in health care organisations are needed. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12621000533897 (observational study; retrospective).

Evaluation of an Online Physical and Mental Wellbeing Program for UST CRS Students: A Feasibility Study Protocol

Evaluation of an Online Physical and Mental Wellbeing Program for UST CRS Students: A Feasibility Study Protocol

Evaluation of an Online Physical and Mental Wellbeing Program for UST-CRS Students: A Feasibility Study

Introduction. With the recent transition to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students experience academic difficulties, which affect their wellbeing. There is a need for an online wellbeing intervention program for students to address such concerns. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a six-week online educational wellbeing program for the physical and mental wellbeing of the University of Santo Tomas College of Rehabilitation Sciences (UST-CRS) students. Methods. This is a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest study that recruited UST-CRS students without physical and mental conditions. Physical and mental wellbeing modules developed by experts were deployed using Wix. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) were used for wellbeing assessment, while the Website Grader Tool and survey were used for website evaluation. Descriptive and inferential statistics, like Wilcoxon Signed Rank test and effect size, were conducted using JAMOVI. Alpha was set at 0.05. Results. Seventeen students participated in the online wellbeing program. Results revealed statistically significant difference in the pre and post intervention IPAQ-SF scores on MET-minute for walking (p=0.04; 95% CI=647-1955), total MET-minute activities (p&lt;0.01, 95% CI=259-2412), andWHO-5 scores (p=0.05; 95% CI=4.36-36.5), with effect sizes of Cohen’s d=0.43-0.71. Participants reported satisfaction with the modules, platform, and organizers despite inconsistent attendance. Discussion. The online wellbeing program is feasible and effective in increasing the physical and mental wellbeing of the students. The findings of this study may guide future experimental studies for online wellbeing programs for university students.

Reclaiming classrooms: Collectivising students’ wisdom, hopes and support

As a microcosm of society, colleges hold great potential for inviting young adults’ stories of resistance and hope. This paper describes the application of collective narrative approaches in my work with students at St Mira’s College for Girls, an undergraduate and postgraduate women’s college in Pune, India. I sought to integrate narrative ideas into the existing mental wellbeing program by documenting and showcasing students’ stories of mental health and wellbeing and their local knowledge about making the campus a safe place. The focus of this paper is on a collective suicide prevention project, which took place over four months in online and offline modes. This paper highlights students’ analysis of suicide as a social problem and their unique ways of supporting others through difficult times. Narrative concepts such as enabling contribution, externalising problems and collective documents are demonstrated.

A systematic review of the long-term benefits of school mental health and wellbeing interventions for students in Australia

BackgroundOver the last decade there has been increased recognition about the role of school staff in preventing mental ill health and promoting wellbeing in young people. Despite this, information regarding the long-term benefits of school mental health programs is not widely available.AimsThe aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the evidence for school-based mental health and wellbeing programs which are available in Australia and have been shown to have long-term benefits for children and adolescents.ResultsThis systematic review of the literature identified 74 articles reporting long-term outcomes for student mental health and wellbeing, distributed across 29 unique programs. Common features of efficacious programs included cognitive behavioral interventions, mental health literacy, and social-emotional skills programs.ConclusionsSome of the identified school-based interventions for student mental health and wellbeing demonstrated long-term positive impacts on students' physical and psychological health and wellbeing.

Understanding Engagement in Digital Mental Health and Well-being Programs for Women in the Perinatal Period: Systematic Review Without Meta-analysis.

BackgroundPregnancy and the postnatal period can be a time of increased psychological distress, which can be detrimental to both the mother and the developing child. Digital interventions are cost-effective and accessible tools to support positive mental health in women during the perinatal period. Although studies report efficacy, a key concern regarding web-based interventions is the lack of engagement leading to drop out, lack of participation, or reduced potential intervention benefits.ObjectiveThis systematic review aimed to understand the reporting and levels of engagement in studies of digital psychological mental health or well-being interventions administered during the perinatal period. Specific objectives were to understand how studies report engagement across 4 domains specified in the Connect, Attend, Participate, and Enact (CAPE) model, make recommendations on best practices to report engagement in digital mental health interventions (DMHIs), and understand levels of engagement in intervention studies in this area. To maximize the utility of this systematic review, we intended to develop practical tools for public health use: to develop a logic model to reference the theory of change, evaluate the studies using the CAPE framework, and develop a guide for future data collection to enable consistent reporting in digital interventions.MethodsThis systematic review used the Cochrane Synthesis Without Meta-analysis reporting guidelines. This study aimed to identify studies reporting DMHIs delivered during the perinatal period in women with subclinical mood symptoms. A systematic database search was used to identify relevant papers using the Ovid Platform for MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Medical Subject Headings on Demand for all English-language articles published in the past 10 years.ResultsSearches generated a database of 3473 potentially eligible studies, with a final selection of 16 (0.46%) studies grouped by study design. Participant engagement was evaluated using the CAPE framework and comparable variables were described. All studies reported at least one engagement metric. However, the measures used were inconsistent, which may have contributed to the wide-ranging results. There was insufficient reporting for enactment (ie, participants’ real-world use of intervention skills), with only 38% (6/16) of studies clearly recording longer-term practice through postintervention interviews. The logic model proposes ways of conceptualizing and reporting engagement details in DMHIs more consistently in the future.ConclusionsThe perinatal period is the optimal time to intervene with strength-based digital tools to build positive mental health. Despite the growing number of studies on digital interventions, few robustly explore engagement, and there is limited evidence of long-term skill use beyond the intervention period. Our results indicate variability in the reporting of both short- and long-term participant engagement behaviors, and we recommend the adoption of standardized reporting metrics in future digital interventions.Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42020162283; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=162283

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcomes of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Based Mobile Mental Well-being Program (Noom Mood): Single-Arm Prospective Cohort Study.

BackgroundThe prevalence of anxiety, depression, and general distress has risen in recent years. Mobile mental health programs have been found to provide support to nonclinical populations and may overcome some of the barriers associated with traditional in-person treatment; however, researchers have voiced concerns that many publicly available mobile mental health programs lack evidence-based theoretical foundations, peer-reviewed research, and sufficient engagement from the public.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of Noom Mood, a commercial mobile cognitive behavioral therapy– and mindfulness-based program.MethodsIn this single-arm prospective cohort study, individuals who joined Noom Mood between August and October 2021 completed surveys at baseline and 4-week follow-up. Per-protocol analyses included those who completed both surveys (n=113), and intention-to-treat analyses included all participants (N=185).ResultsA majority of the sample reported that the program is easy to use, they felt confident recommending the program to a friend, and they perceived the program to be effective at improving stress and anxiety. There were significant improvements in anxiety symptoms, perceived stress, depressive feelings, emotion regulation, and optimism in both the per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses (all P<.001). Participants reported benefiting most from learning skills (eg, breathing and cognitive reframing techniques), interacting with the program features, and gaining awareness of their emotions and thought patterns. Participants also made a number of suggestions to improve product functionality and usability.ConclusionsResults suggest that Noom Mood is feasible and acceptable to participants, with promising preliminary outcomes. Future studies should build on these results to evaluate the effects of Noom Mood using more rigorous designs.