Mental health at work is a critical issue that affects both individual well-being and organizational performance. Historically, mental health has been a taboo subject in the workplace, despite its significant impact on worker productivity and organizational outcomes. A growing body of research highlights the importance of addressing mental health in the workplace, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and evidence-informed practices. This article explores the development and implementation of a framework designed to assess and improve organizational-level initiatives aimed at supporting workforce mental health.
The Mental Health at Work Index™ was developed to provide a standardized assessment of organizational-level initiatives addressing workforce mental health. This assessment employs a maturity model approach, allowing organizations to self-assess their program development and identify areas for improvement. The framework was created through a collaborative effort involving experts in organizational, clinical, and occupational health psychology, public health, workplace health promotion, corporate compliance and risk management, measurement and evaluation, and management systems. This interdisciplinary approach aims to integrate typically-siloed research and practices, promote collaborative solutions, and include diverse perspectives.
Approximately 1 in 5 adults experience some degree of a mental health concern each year, and in 2019, an estimated 970 million people globally had a diagnosable mental health disorder, including 15% of working-age adults. Work itself can also affect mental health, with 57% of U.S. workers reporting negative mental health impacts related to work stress and nearly half experiencing chronic stress. An extensive body of research links work stress to various negative mental health outcomes, affecting cognitive, emotional, social, and physical well-being. As a result, workers may experience hindered productivity or performance, lessened ability to work safely, or difficulty acquiring or maintaining work.
The business case for creating a mentally healthy workplace is strong and complementary to the ethical and human imperative for organizations to support worker mental health. Increasing the impact of mental health at work efforts requires a comprehensive approach that protects worker mental health, promotes psychological well-being, and provides access to information, resources, and services as needed. The 3 Ps and 10 categories of practices that form the structure of the Mental Health at Work Index Framework and related assessment are intended to help employers measure and improve the maturity of their workforce mental health programs. By investing in a strategic, evidence-informed approach, organizations can systemically address workforce mental health and create work environments where individuals and organizations thrive.
To date, much of the emphasis on mental health in the workplace has focused on providing specific benefits that help individual workers manage mental health problems when they arise or offering resources intended to increase mental health literacy and encourage workers to adopt coping skills. While these individual-focused actions may provide useful support, they are unlikely to yield optimal results without more systemic efforts. Real change comes from organizations taking a strategic approach to workforce mental health and investing in comprehensive and systemic improvements. Numerous guidance documents for employers have emerged in recent years, including ISO 45003, the first international standard on psychological health and safety at work, the World Health Organization Guidelines on Mental Health at Work, the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being, and the Framework for Mentally Healthy Workplaces.
The development of the Mental Health at Work Index Framework was led by experts in organizational, clinical, and occupational health psychology, public health, workplace health promotion, corporate compliance and risk management, measurement and evaluation, and management systems. The collaborators assembled a core scientific and expert team that was first tasked with organizing the numerous employer practices that can support workers' mental health and the best practice guidance from various sources into a comprehensive framework. This article details the development process and describes a framework that includes both a continuum for addressing the full range of workers' needs and 10 categories of evidence-informed practices that support and advance workforce mental health.
The resulting Mental Health at Work Index™ is a standardized assessment of organizational-level initiatives to address workforce mental health that employs a maturity model approach. This assessment enables organizations to self-assess their program development and pinpoint areas for improvement. The framework includes a continuum for addressing the full range of workers' needs and 10 categories of evidence-informed practices that support and advance workforce mental health. The article concludes with a discussion of how this framework guides the Mental Health at Work Index assessment, future directions for the Index, current limitations, and gaps in both research and practice that need to be closed to improve workforce mental health efforts moving forward.
A culture of empathy, understanding, and support can ultimately benefit the entire workplace community. The Mental Health at Work Index™ and its associated framework provide a valuable tool for organizations to assess and improve their workforce mental health initiatives. By taking a strategic, evidence-informed approach, organizations can create work environments that support the mental health and well-being of their employees, leading to improved organizational performance and sustainability.
Conclusion
The Mental Health at Work Index™ and its associated framework offer a valuable approach for organizations to assess and improve their workforce mental health initiatives. By taking a strategic, evidence-informed approach, organizations can create work environments that support the mental health and well-being of their employees, leading to improved organizational performance and sustainability. The framework includes a continuum for addressing the full range of workers' needs and 10 categories of evidence-informed practices that support and advance workforce mental health. The resulting assessment enables organizations to self-assess their program development and pinpoint areas for improvement. A culture of empathy, understanding, and support can ultimately benefit the entire workplace community. The business case for creating a mentally healthy workplace is strong and complementary to the ethical and human imperative for organizations to support worker mental health. Increasing the impact of mental health at work efforts requires a comprehensive approach that protects worker mental health, promotes psychological well-being, and provides access to information, resources, and services as needed. By investing in a strategic, evidence-informed approach, organizations can systemically address workforce mental health and create work environments where individuals and organizations thrive.