Mental health and work
Awareness is growing about the importance of how the work environment, in particular the psychosocial environment, can impact the mental health of workers. Awareness is also growing about the differing work accommodation and return-to-work needs of workers with mental—versus physical—health conditions. Our research aims to identify and measure psychosocial hazards and explore how dimensions of the psychosocial work environment can promote positive mental health or lead to poorer mental health. Our research also explores workplace and system-level strategies for helping workers with mental health conditions—including post-traumatic stress disorders—stay in and return to work.
Latest findings
Widely used survey lacks ability to tell apart 13 distinct psychosocial work factors
The Guarding Minds @ Work survey is designed to measure 13 dimensions of the psychosocial work environment. But a study of its measurement properties, carried out by IWH and OHCOW, finds it unable to measure each dimension in isolation.
IWH study finds psychosocial work stressors lead to burnout, but not vice versa
Research is starting to show that psychosocial work conditions can lead to burnout. But can burnout in turn influence a person’s relationship to their work? A new study at IWH examines whether a negative feedback loop exists between work stressors and burnout.
Workers’ and managers’ perspectives on workplace supports for depression
Workplace programs and practices to support workers with depression are available. but their effectiveness is largely unknown. An IWH study set out to understand how workers with depression, and those who manage them, view current practices. It found notable differences between the two groups.Featured guide
Learn what to do when you, your co-workers or employees experience depressive symptoms at work.
Featured resource
This summary of an IWH research project outlines challenges in return to work within police services related to three key themes: accommodation, communication and trust-building, all within the culture and context of policing.
