With a little help from my boss : supervisors as resource-facilitators

Abstract

Employee mental health problems are among the most costly issues facing employers in the developed world. In North America, mental health problems directly affect 1 in 5 people and are the leading cause of workplace disability. Recognizing this, many employers have introduced resources designed to help employees cope with stressors. Yet, these resources are remarkably underutilized. My research was designed to evaluate the role of organizational leaders in increasing employee resource-use. To do so, I took a three-phased approach. First, I conducted a qualitative study, whereby I interviewed managers about their experiences managing employees with mental illnesses. Second, I developed and validated an other-rated measure of strain to help leaders recognize the behavioral warning signs of a struggling employee—an employee who could benefit from resources. Third, a three-hour mental health awareness training (MHAT) for managers was delivered and evaluated using a longitudinal control group design. Compared to leaders who did not participate in the MHAT, leaders who participated in the training a) experienced improvements in their ability to recognize warning signs of deteriorating employee mental health, b) engaged in significantly more mental health promotion behaviors and activities in the workplace, and c) took more comprehensive action to direct employees towards available resources. Employees whose leaders attended the training also experienced increased willingness to seek out resources and reported using resources more frequently than their colleagues whose leaders did not attend the training. Thus, mental health training for managers can exert a positive impact on employee and leader outcomes up to three months post-training.