Workplace Mental Health Research Articles

Trustees Approve Action Items Embedding Anti-Racism in Governance Structure

Trustees Approve Action Items Embedding Anti-Racism in Governance Structure

Workplace Reintegration Facilitator Training Program for Mental Health Literacy and Workplace Attitudes of Public Safety Personnel: Pre-Post Pilot Cohort Study.

BackgroundPublic safety personnel (PSP) impacted by operational stress injuries can find themselves needing both time off work and support reintegrating back into the workforce. Work reintegration programs have been introduced in PSP organizations to support those who aim to return to work. One such peer-led workplace reintegration program (RP) was created in 2009 by members of the Edmonton Police Service (EPS). The primary goal of the EPSRP is to assist PSP in returning to work as soon as possible following a critical incident, illness, or injury while diminishing the potential for long-term psychological injury. The EPSRP is delivered by peers through 3 interrelated components: (1) the Reintegration Program Facilitator Training (RPFT) Program; (2) a short-term Critical Incident RP; and (3) a long-term RP. There is a dire need for research that incorporates strong study designs to the determine long-term effectiveness of the program on increasing workplace reintegration, improving mental health knowledge, and creating culture change within PSP organizations. Simultaneously, the efficacy, effectiveness, and fidelity of the RPFT in providing the tools, mental health knowledge, and skills the RP peer facilitators will need for the RP must be evaluated.ObjectiveThe purpose of this quasi-experimental pre-post pilot cohort study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the EPSRPFT course on influencing mental health knowledge and attitudes of RPFT attendees who will be future RP peer facilitators.MethodsThis pre-post cohort study collected data via 2 questionnaires from RPFT participants (N=60) which included the Mental Health Knowledge Survey (MAKS) and the Open Minds Survey of Workplace Attitudes (OMSWA). Descriptive, parametric (sample t tests), and nonparametric (Wilcoxon signed rank tests) statistics were used to compare the pre- and post-RPFT results and to analyze results by gender and profession.ResultsStatistically significant changes were observed in pre-post questionnaire scores in the domains of mental health attitudes and knowledge.ConclusionsAlthough results are explorative, the RPFT may facilitate positive changes in workplace mental health attitudes and knowledge among PSP. It is hoped these findings will contribute to a broader evidence base that can inform changes to the program, practices, and policies, and inform decision-making regarding the EPSRP.

Workplace Protections and Burnout Among Brazilian Frontline Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Health care workers from low- and middle-income countries have been playing a critical role in overcoming the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic; yet little is known about the relationship between workplace protections and wellbeing of Brazilian health care workers during the pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate whether Brazilian health care workers were satisfied with their workplace measures to protect their physical and mental health during the pandemic, and to assess the associations of such levels of satisfaction with indicators of burnout. Licensed Brazilian health care professionals were recruited via popular media between 5/19/2020 and 8/23/2020 to complete an online survey including questions about their demographic/professional characteristics, satisfaction with their workplace protective measures during the pandemic, and validated questionnaires assessing neuroticism, resilient coping, and symptoms of burnout. Most participants reported being dissatisfied with their workplace measures to protect their physical (516, 56.3%) and mental health (756, 82.5%). In multivariable analysis adjusted for personal and environmental factors, dissatisfaction with workplace physical health protections was significantly associated with higher levels of emotional exhaustion (B = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.47–1.69) and depersonalization (B = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.10–1.12), and dissatisfaction with workplace mental health protections significantly associated with higher levels emotional exhaustion (B = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.40–1.95). Efforts to improve both physical and mental health protective measures are critical to guarantee that health care workers continue to provide care at their maximum capacity.

Juggling on a tightrope: Experiences of small and micro business managers responding to employees with mental health difficulties

This article presents findings from an in-depth qualitative study focused exclusively on the first-hand experiences of small and micro businesses managers who have responded to employees with mental health difficulties. Despite growing policy focus on workplace mental health, empirical research evidence on management experiences of responding to mental health issues in a small or micro business context is rare. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 21 UK-based small and micro business managers who described 45 individual employee cases, we examine how managers traverse a support-performance continuum, and use a tension-based lens to analyse the tensions that managers experienced. We examine three key tensions for small and micro business managers that surfaced when responding to employees with mental health problems: (1) Individual vs Collective; (2) Confidence vs Caution; (3) Informal vs Formal. Our analysis exposes how managers handle tensions when managing at the nexus of support and performance and contributes a deeper understanding of the dynamics and challenges of managing mental health problems in small and micro businesses.

Rebecca O. Bagley named The Kennedy Forum president, CEO

The Kennedy Forum, a national mental health nonprofit, announced on April 19 that Rebecca O. Bagley has been named president and CEO. Bagley will oversee efforts to expand the reach of promising practices in mental health policy, workplace mental health, school‐based mental health and health care integration. She will also lead initiatives designed to coalesce historically siloed communities and maximize collective impact, a spokesperson for the Forum said. Bagley has more than 20 years of experience collaborating with stakeholders through strategic partnerships that achieve shared goals and outcomes. Prior to joining the Forum, Bagley was CEO of Cannex Scientific, where she was responsible for commercializing an anti‐anxiety medication. Earlier in her career, as vice chancellor of economic partnerships at the University of Pittsburgh, she successfully expanded a network of global partnerships with financial groups, corporations and government entities to support more than $850 million in research, Forum officials stated.

Occupational identity, work, psychological distress and gender in management: results from SALVEO study

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the contribution of occupational identity and gender in explaining psychological distress among managers. It proposes and tests empirically a theoretical model that integrates identity theory into occupational stress and gender research. It analyses the proposition that a low level of verification of role identity is associated with a high level of psychological distress and that gender plays a moderating role in the relationship between role identity verification and psychological distress.Design/methodology/approachMultilevel regression analyses were conducted on a sample of 314 managers employed in 56 Canadian firms.FindingsLow level of verification of one standard of managers’ role identity, namely, recognition, is significantly associated with managers’ psychological distress. It encloses monetary and non-monetary recognition, career prospects and job security. Notwithstanding, gender does not moderate the relationship between identity verification and psychological distress.Originality/valueStudies addressing the contributions of identity and gender in the explanation of managers’ psychological distress are sparse. This paper helps to expand the scope of management and workplace mental health research as well as gender-related research, by proposing a new approach for the study of managers’ psychological distress, by the integration of identity theory and the analysis of the moderating role of gender.

Psychological challenges and coping strategies of quarantined healthcare workers exposed to confirmed COVID-19 cases in a tertiary hospital in Edo state

Objectives: Healthcare workers (HCWs) face a significant risk of exposure to the new SARS-CoV-2 virus due to its high infectivity. This study aimed to determine the mental health consequences of quarantine and the coping strategies used by quarantined healthcare workers (HCW) at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of 32 HCWs quarantined due to exposure to confirmed case of COVID-19. The primary outcome variables were the frequency of depression, anxiety, and anxiety-depression. Data was collected with the use of a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the patient health questionnaire-9 and the general anxiety disorder-7 questionnaires respetively. Results: There were 32 quarantined health workers with a mean ± SD age of 32.4 ± 8.4 years, and 59.4% were female. Twenty-three (71.9%) had spent <5 years in service. Doctors and nurses made up an equal proportion of 46.9% of the respondents, respectively. The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and anxiety-depression was 9.4%, 12.5%, and 9.4%, respectively. Coping measures employed by the health workers centered on preventing boredom and improving communication. Conclusion: There was a low frequency of anxiety, depression, and anxiety-depression in HCWs who were quarantined as a result of exposure to COVID-19. Health-care managers need to support the establish formal workplace mental health programs to support the psychological well-being of all staff.

Effects of Workplace Gossip on Employee Mental Health: A Moderated Mediation Model of Psychological Capital and Developmental Job Experience.

Research has demonstrated the effects of workplace gossip on employees' work attitudes and behaviors. However, little emphasis has been placed on the psychological influence of workplace gossip on employees. The present study investigated the relationships among workplace gossip, psychological capital, and individual mental health. Data were collected in three waves from 222 full-time employees of a Taiwanese tourism company to explore the effect of workplace gossip on employees' mental health. The results suggested that workplace gossip was associated with employees' mental health through psychological capital. Moreover, developmental job experience plays a moderator role in the relationships among workplace gossip, psychological capital, and mental health. A moderated mediation model was also proposed in this study.

Minding environment, minding workers: environmental workers' mental health and wellbeing.

Climate change and environmental degradation caused by human activities are having an irrefutable impact on human health, particularly mental health. People working in the environment sector are confronted with these impacts daily. This exploratory study was conducted as a response to concern in the sector about rising levels of worry and distress, and a need for organizational knowledge about effective workplace mental health strategies. Using evidenced-based frameworks for workplace mental health and wellbeing, the study focused on the relationship between climate change, environmental degradation and mental health issues for this sector. This Australian-based exploratory qualitative study was guided by participatory research approaches. Maximum variation and criterion sampling strategies were applied to engage environmental sector senior managers (n = 8) in individual/paired interviews, followed by online focus group sessions with frontline employees (n = 9). Qualitative thematic analysis techniques were used in an iterative process, combining inductive and deductive strategies. Data was triangulated and interpretation was finalized with reference to literature and a workplace mental health promotion framework. Interview data provided new perspectives on the interconnectivity between risk and protective factors for mental health. Workers were motivated by commitment and values to continue their work despite experiencing increasing levels of trauma, ecological grief, and stress due to overwork and ecological and climate change crises. The findings highlight the need for integrated health promotion approaches that acknowledge the complex interactions between risk and supportive factors that influence mental health in this sector.

Mental health and wellbeing at work in the UK: current legal approaches

AbstractIn this paper we outline and critique legal approaches to poor mental health at work in the UK. We argue that the current legal framework is not ‘fit for purpose’. Overall, the existing framework promotes a problematic model that is ineffective because each element, individually and as part of the whole, fails to adequately engage with the nuanced realities of the relationship between undertaking paid work and suffering poor mental health. It is, we suggest, disjointed because it has evolved from a patchwork of provisions, each with different foundations, motivations, ambitions and flaws. The need for a re-focus, and what this might entail, is considered, and the capacity of a model centred on addressing workplace mental health as a manifestation of broader notions of vulnerability is explored.

Mental health and workplace factors: comparison of the Ghanaian and Australian mining industry

BackgroundMining is a global industry and contributes significantly to international economies. This study seeks to compare the patterns of psychological distress, job demand-control, and associated characteristics between two countries (Australia/Ghana) to increase understanding of cross-cultural factors relevant to mental health in this industry.MethodA cross-sectional study design was used. Eight coal mines in Australia and five gold mines in Ghana. A total of 2622 mineworkers participated in this study. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Berkman-Syme Social Network Index (SNI) and help-seeking questionnaire.ResultsGhanaian mineworkers reported increased psychological distress compared to Australian mineworkers; Job demands outweighed control among Ghanaian mineworkers but was associated with lower risk of psychological distress compared to Australian mineworkers; Ghanaian mineworkers were significantly less likely to drink alcohol at risky levels but this was associated with higher psychological distress; Increased social network was associated with decreased psychological distress for both countries.ConclusionsThese findings identify cultural and geographical differences in the socio-demographics, workplace factors, psychological distress, and alcohol use in both countries. Cross-cultural occupational workplace factors and mental health issues are highlighted. Potential workplace interventions applicable in comparable settings are recommended.

Working mothers during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study on mental health status and associations with the receipt of employment benefits

BackgroundBeyond the sweeping physiological effects of COVID-19 infections in 2020 and 2021, the psychosocial impacts of lockdowns, social distancing, and the associated disruptions to daily life have brought on a simultaneous mental health crisis, particularly among many working mothers who are disproportionately balancing childcare, virtual schooling, and employment vulnerability. The aim of this study was to measure the mental health status of working mothers in the United States and associations with the provision of family-friendly employment benefits one year into the pandemic.MethodsCross-sectional data were collected from a sample of working mothers in the U.S. using an online survey of mental health status and the receipt of employer-provided family-friendly benefits. Mental health was measured with the Kessler 6 (K-6) and the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS). Perceived helpfulness of benefits was assessed through self-reported Likert-scale scores of 0 (not at all helpful) to 4 (extremely helpful) to determine mean helpfulness scores for benefit types. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine associations between receipt of employment benefits and serious mental illness (SMI).ResultsA total of 728 participants met the study criteria, 83.7% were non-Hispanic/Latino white and 61.1% were 35–44 years of age. Among study participants, 54.3% (n = 395) and 21.8% (n = 159) reported psychological distress levels associated with moderate mental illness (MMI) and serious mental illness (SMI), respectively. Not receiving benefits was associated with a 50% increase in odds of SMI (aOR = 1.50, 95% CI [1.03–2.20], p = 0.036). Benefits perceived to be the most helpful for participants were flexible hours/schedule (3.5; SD ± 0.9), flexible work location (3.3; SD ± 1.1), and supplemental paid time off (3.1; SD ± 1.1), with mean scores above very helpful.ConclusionResults suggest employment benefits may help support the mental health of working mothers and provide a call to action to employers and policy stakeholders to develop solutions addressing gaps in workplace benefits and mental health support for working parents, with sustainable reform in mind to mitigate employment benefit inequities exposed by the pandemic.

Workplace Mental Health Law: Perspectives Based on a Comparative Analysis of Legislation in Seven Countries

This article summarizes the outcome of a comparative legal analysis conducted in seven countries (UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Germany, US, and Japan) to obtain practical and theoretical insights into prevention and appropriate responses to the increasing issues around mental health in the workplace. The author worked closely with experts in a wide range of fields, including psychiatry, occupational medicine, business administration, human resources management, and sociology to characterize the issue and identify effective approaches from a legal perspective. Based on the findings, this article emphasizes the importance of ensuring procedural rationality and establishing a ‘circle of responsibility’ among the relevant parties. Workplace Mental Health, Psycho-Social Risks, Labour Law, Disability Discrimination Act, Organizational Psychology, Stress-Check System

Join in the APA Foundation’s 30th Anniversary Celebration!

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Annual MeetingFull AccessJoin in the APA Foundation’s 30th Anniversary Celebration!Katie O'ConnorKatie O'ConnorSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:25 Feb 2022https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2022.03.3.48AbstractWhat better place to have a birthday party than New Orleans! It will take place on a riverboat on the Mississippi River and celebrate the APA Foundation’s 30-year history of working to improve community mental health.APA Foundation’s 30th anniversary celebration will be held on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong, which was originally designed as a gaming boat and is one of the newest and biggest event venues in New Orleans.Riverboat Louis Armstrong/Aron LukacherIn a column published in Psychiatric News 30 years ago, Elissa Benedek, M.D., then president of the APA Foundation (APAF), wrote that the Foundation’s work supports “the development of public and professional activities to advance education and research in psychiatry, increase public awareness of psychiatric illness, and improve access to treatment.”While APAF’s mission has evolved over time, its core values have remained the same. Throughout the past 30 years, it has worked diligently to improve awareness of mental health issues and overcome barriers to care.To celebrate its 30th anniversary, APAF is hosting a benefit during APA’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans on the Riverboat Louis Armstrong, known as the largest event venue on the Mississippi River. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and spend time with APA leaders, colleagues, and friends, all while enjoying the region’s unique cuisine, entertainment, and culture.APAF’s work has become even more important as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and people across the country struggle with mental health issues, burnout, and other challenges. “We have been presented with no shortage of challenges, but also with some significant opportunities to help people take their first steps toward better mental health and well-being in new and innovative ways,” said Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., APAF’s executive director.In his introduction to Benedek’s column in Psychiatric News, then president Joseph T. English, M.D., wrote that APAF was helping the field of psychiatry in “moving ahead and planning for the future.” Even as it looks back over the past 30 years, APAF is working toward the future, and Andrews pointed to several APAF programs that he expects to flourish during its next 30 years.For example, APAF Center for Workplace Mental Health has become a vital resource for Fortune 500 companies, government employers, and academic institutions, on and offline, who are trying to improve workplace mental health. The Notice. Talk. Act. at School program has reached 166 schools across 42 states to help faculty and staff members recognize signs of distress among thousands of students and connect them to resources when appropriate. Finally, APAF’s fellowship programs have produced a number of today’s leaders in psychiatry—an important mission as the need for such leaders is exponentially increasing, Andrews said.“The mental health crisis that existed before the pandemic has become even more urgent now, and APAF has stepped up to meet the need with programs to support mental health in communities across the country,” said Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A., APA’s CEO and medical director and chair of APAF Board of Directors. “APAF’s benefit and anniversary celebration will provide an excellent opportunity to relax with colleagues in a beautiful setting while reflecting on the incredible work that APAF has accomplished over the past 30 years.”Proceeds from the benefit will be used to support APAF’s programs and initiatives, all of which embody APA’s tradition of working to increase access to high-quality care for all people with mental disorders. ■The benefit will be held Monday, May 23, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Information on purchasing tickets is available here.More information about APAF’s programs is posted here. If you cannot attend, please consider making a donation at this site. ISSUES NewArchived

CE Module: Associations Between Workplace Violence, Mental Health, and Physical Health Among Korean Workers by Hae Ran Kim

CE Module: Associations Between Workplace Violence, Mental Health, and Physical Health Among Korean Workers by Hae Ran Kim

Relationship Between Room Acoustics With Voice Symptoms and Voice-Related Quality of Life Among Colombian School and College Teachers During Online Classes in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic

AimTo determine the relationship between working conditions, especially room acoustics, with voice symptoms and voice-related quality of life among Colombian school and college teachers during online classes in times of COVID-19 pandemic.MethodExploratory cross-sectional study. Participants were thirty-two primary, secondary and university Colombian teachers, who were invited to fill in an online survey about working conditions and voice symptoms during online classes in times of COVID-19 pandemic. In the statistical analysis, four dependent variables and eight independent variables were defined. We used Generalized Linear Model with a Gamma distribution and Binary Logistic Regression to determine the association between voice with working conditions.ResultsHigh reverberation time and stress during online classes in times of the COVID-19 pandemic reduced slightly the VRQOL scores. For Factor 3 of the VFI, high reverberation time and months teaching online classes were associated at the multivariate analysis. Stress and years of experience were statistically associated with an increased odds of reporting hoarseness.ConclusionSimilar to pre-COVID-19, teachers with online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic are affected by two work-related factors namely high reverberation time and stress. These two factors are increasing their likelihood of reporting hoarseness and having lower voice-related quality of life, which may confirm the relationship between reverberation, stress, and voice also during online classes. This highlights the need of implementing workplace vocal and mental health programs to decrease the occurrence of voice problems among teachers in times of and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Fundamental issues and pandemic pushes pharmacists past their limits

Fundamental issues and pandemic pushes pharmacists past their limits

In Case You Haven't Heard…

The American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) has been awarded a $379,200 grant from the Brave of Heart Fund to help address the well‐being and burnout concerns of front‐line health care workers. Over the next two years, the APAF's Center on Workplace Mental Health will use the grant to convene experts for roundtables on key topics, leverage the power of storytelling through interviews with hospital leadership, call attention to the issue with the public and health care system leaders and develop resources on best practices to connect front‐line health care workers with mental health care. The Brave of Heart Fund, founded by the foundations of New York Life and Cigna and administered by E4E Relief, was initially dedicated to providing financial support in the form of charitable relief grants and emotional support services to help families of health care workers who lost their lives to COVID‐19. Today, the focus of the Brave of Heart Fund is to support nonprofits aligned with the spirit and intent of the fund's core purposes, and the APAF has been selected for a grant, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

Differential Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Symptoms and Working Conditions for Senior and Junior Doctors in Australian Hospitals.

This study investigated severity, prevalence, and predictors of workplace disruption and mental health symptoms in Australian junior and senior hospital medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey collected data on demographics, workplace disruption, personal relationships, and mental health. One thousand twenty-one (62.1%) senior and 745 (37.9%) junior medical staff, located primarily in Victoria, completed the survey. Work disruptions were common but varied by seniority, withjunior staff more frequently exposed to COVID- 19 (P < 0.001). Symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and burnout were common but significantly higher in junior doctors (P = 0.011 to < 0.001). Common predictors for experiencing mental health symptoms were identified, including prior mental health diagnoses and worsening personal relationships. COVID-19 has had significant but varied impacts on junior and senior doctors, with junior doctors particularly susceptible to harm to mental health. Interventions to safeguard hospital medical staff and prevent attrition of this important workforce are urgently needed.

Women healthcare workers' experiences during COVID-19 and other crises: A scoping review.

BackgroundThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as measures have been taken to both prevent the spread of COVID-19 and provide care to those who fall ill, healthcare workers have faced added risks to their health and wellbeing. These risks are disproportionately felt by women healthcare workers, yet health policies do not always take a gendered approach.ObjectivesThe objective of this review was to identify the gendered effects of crises on women healthcare workers’ health and wellbeing, as well as to provide guidance for decision-makers on health systems policies and programs that could better support women healthcare workers.MethodsA scoping review of published academic literature was conducted. PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched using combinations of relevant medical subject headings and keywords. Data was extracted using a thematic coding framework. Seventy-six articles met the inclusion criteria.ResultsDuring disease outbreaks women healthcare workers were found to experience: a higher risk of exposure and infection; barriers to accessing personal protective equipment; increased workloads; decreased leadership and decision-making opportunities; increased caregiving responsibilities in the home when schools and childcare supports were restricted; and higher rates of mental ill-health, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. There was a lack of attention paid to gender and the health workforce during times of crisis prior to COVID-19, and there is a substantial gap in research around the experiences of women healthcare workers in low- and middle-income countries during times of crises.ConclusionCOVID-19 provides an opportunity to develop gender-responsive crisis preparedness plans within the health sector. Without consideration of gender, crises will continue to exacerbate existing gender disparities, resulting in disproportionate negative impacts on women healthcare workers. The findings point to several important recommendations to better support women healthcare workers, including: workplace mental health support, economic assistance to counteract widening pay gaps, strategies to support their personal caregiving duties, and interventions that support and advance women's careers and increase their representation in leadership roles.