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. 2023 Dec 7:37:102534.
doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102534. eCollection 2024 Jan.

Promoting mental health through collaboration between workplaces and occupational health services - Preliminary findings from a survey and workshop in Finland

Minna Majuri  1   2 , Mari-Anne Wallius  1
Affiliations

Promoting mental health through collaboration between workplaces and occupational health services - Preliminary findings from a survey and workshop in Finland

Minna Majuri et al. Prev Med Rep. .

Abstract

Disability due to mental health problems places a significant burden on both society and the individual. Occupational health professionals play a key role in promoting mental health in collaboration with workplaces. Our study focused on the joint preventive mental health practices of workplaces and occupational health services (OHS). We used a multiple method approach. We gathered data in parallel from September to October 2021 through an online survey and a workshop of 102 participants. The survey was sent to 25 workplaces and their OHS (N = 25), and assessed employee perceptions of collaboration in mental health practices. We set no exclusion criteria and included all responses. We used Fisher's Exact Test in the statistical analysis. We studied 140 comments on the means of the mental health support obtained in the workshop, using content analysis. The survey response rate was 78 % (N = 39). The OHS providers (N = 15) claimed that mental health support was being provided through collaboration, and 74 % (N = 24) of the workplaces agreed. Content analysis streamlined collaboration methods into six upper categories: by (1) Planning measures together, (2) Strengthening employees' resources, (3) Discussing work ability, (4) Providing supervisors/managers with support, (5) Discussing and collaborating, and (6) Clarifying responsibilities and roles in the support of mental health. We found 55 different practices for streamlining collaboration between workplaces and OHS. We conclude that the practices to promote mental health through collaboration between workplaces and OHS require joint planning.

Keywords: Collaboration; Mentalhealth; Occupationalhealthservice; Workplace.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study flow. Design of multiple-method study conducted in 2021–2022 to determine the collaboration between Finnish workplaces and occupational health services to promote mental health.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Percentage (%) distribution of participating workplaces using Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). The Finnish “Mental Health at Work Program” development project studied 25 workplaces. Classified according to the Official Statistics of Finland, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2008.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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