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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

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Open Access 22-07-2022 | Mood Disorders | Original Paper

Supporting employees with mental illness and reducing mental illness-related stigma in the workplace: an expert survey

Authors: Bridget Hogg, Ana Moreno-Alcázar, Mónika Ditta Tóth, Ilinca Serbanescu, Birgit Aust, Caleb Leduc, Charlotte Paterson, Fotini Tsantilla, Kahar Abdulla, Arlinda Cerga-Pashoja, Johanna Cresswell-Smith, Naim Fanaj, Andia Meksi, Doireann Ni Dhalaigh, Hanna Reich, Victoria Ross, Sarita Sanches, Katherine Thomson, Chantal Van Audenhove, Victor Pérez, Ella Arensman, Gyorgy Purebl, Benedikt L. Amann, MENTUPP consortium members

Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience | Issue 3/2023

Abstract

An expert survey was designed to support the development of a workplace-based multi-country intervention tackling depression, anxiety, and mental illness-related stigma in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Academic experts and representatives of SME organisations, specific sector organisations, labour or advocacy groups, and occupational health organisations, were contacted across eight European countries and Australia. The survey comprised closed and open text questions to assess expert opinion about interventions for employees with mental health difficulties, interventions supporting their managers, and anti-stigma interventions. The survey was available in six languages. The online platform Qualtrics was used for data collection. Quantitative data was analysed through descriptive statistics and qualitative data was analysed through thematic analysis. Sixty-five of 146 experts responded, representing a 42% response rate. Results showed only 26.2% of experts agreed that employees could speak openly about mental health issues, and 81.5% of experts indicated a large or medium unmet need for support for employees with mental health issues. Psychoeducational materials, face-to-face workshops and interventions based on cognitive behavioural therapy were ranked most likely to be taken up by employees. Experts rated as most useful for managers’ guidelines on how to act if an employee has mental health issues (67.7%). The greatest number of experts indicated workshops of people with lived experience of mental illness (80.0%) and awareness campaigns (78.5%) were most required to tackle stigma. Responses were consistent between experts from different countries and areas of expertise. Experts in this multinational survey assessed that interventions supporting mental health in the workplace and tackling stigma are greatly needed. A multicomponent intervention with a wide range of materials and tools is supported.

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Title: Supporting employees with mental illness and reducing mental illness-related stigma in the workplace: an expert survey
Authors: Bridget Hogg
Ana Moreno-Alcázar
Mónika Ditta Tóth
Ilinca Serbanescu
Birgit Aust
Caleb Leduc
Charlotte Paterson
Fotini Tsantilla
Kahar Abdulla
Arlinda Cerga-Pashoja
Johanna Cresswell-Smith
Naim Fanaj
Andia Meksi
Doireann Ni Dhalaigh
Hanna Reich
Victoria Ross
Sarita Sanches
Katherine Thomson
Chantal Van Audenhove
Victor Pérez
Ella Arensman
Gyorgy Purebl
Benedikt L. Amann
MENTUPP consortium members
Publication date: 22-07-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Mood Disorders
Affective Disorder
Anxiety
Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience / Issue 3/2023
Print ISSN: 0940-1334
Electronic ISSN: 1433-8491
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-022-01443-3

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Supporting employees with mental illness and reducing mental illness-related stigma in the workplace: an expert survey

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