Practitioner research

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Author: Narayanasamy et al.

IOSH Mental health first aid in the workplace: A feasibility study (2018)

IOSH Mental health first aid in the workplace: A feasibility study (2018)

This review sought to compare Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to alternative training; understand the implementation issues within 81 organisations through survey data from those who had attended an MHFA course; and gain insight into the implementation, use and utility of MHFA by interviewing participants. The review included 25 mental health awareness courses and 14 suicide awareness courses. Success of MHFA training was found to be enhanced by a clear rationale for the introduction of MHFA, motivated MHFA co-ordinators and MHFA organisational networks. Barriers to implementation included challenges with measuring the impact, lack of clear boundaries for the MHFA role and inconsistent strategies to identify trained MHFA persons and promote this role. Other specific issues around the MHFA course are discussed (e.g. course length, ability to evaluate MHFA and refresher training opportunities). Overall, findings suggest participants were positive towards MHFA, while it was acknowledged that barriers to the success of the MHFA role included: challenges in measuring impact, having clear role boundaries within the MHFA role and inconsistencies with selecting and promoting individuals for the role.

 
Author: Bell et al.

HSE: Summary of the evidence on the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in the workplace (2018)

HSE: Summary of the evidence on the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in the workplace (2018)

A rapid scoping evidence review was conducted to consider the impact, influence and application of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training within the workplace. 22 previously published studies were included in the review. Key findings include: of the small number of high quality published occupational studies which have included MHFA, many have design and quality limitations; the evidence surrounding the adapation of MHFA training content for a workplace context is limited; evidence around MHFA training improving trainees' awareness of mental ill-health conditions, including signs and symptoms is consistent; evidence surrounding MHFA leading to sustained improvements in trainees' ability to support a colleauge experiencing mental ill-health is limited; there is no supporting evidence to suggest that MHFA training has improved the management of mental health within the workplace. This review highlights some key gaps of knowledge around the effectiveness of MHFA within the workplace.

Author: Whitmore et al.

RAND Europe: Promising practices for health and wellbeing at work (2018)

RAND Europe: Promising practices for health and wellbeing at work (2018)

Using the NESTA standards this research uses case studies to examine the current state of workplace interventions and the quality of evidence that is being conducted on such interventions. Over a 5-week period, 117 submissions of data were collected. The research concluded that: the majority of case studies were submitted by intervention providers (rather than organisations implementing the organisations or independent evaluations); interventions to address mental health were often cited in the submissions received; although organisations provided substantial evidence of the impact of their intervention on health/wellbeing outcomes, few interventions reached a grade above Nesta Level 2 i.e. where data shows positive change but causality cannot be confirmed; a variety of data sources were collected by organisations to explore the impact of their wellbeing interventions, including health measures, business indicators and unstructured feedback. This paper highlights while there is some data to suggest good practice across organisations, more rigorous evidence is needed when evaluating the effectiveness of wellbeing interventions within the workplace. 

Author: Wilson, Martin & Spiegelhalter

Institute for Employment Studies (IES) and Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB): Understanding the conditions for successful mental health training for managers (2018)

Institute for Employment Studies (IES) and Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB): Understanding the conditions for successful mental health training for managers (2018)

This research, carried out by IES on behalf of RSSB, reviews the current literature surrounding mental health training for managers. The report highlights an overview of the current UK evidence base on the effectiveness of training, of which the authors note, only a handful were relevant and high-quality evaluations and conclude that it is still unclear to as which aspects of training result in a successful outcome. Details of interventions currently available are provided. The authors recommend mental health training for managers should include core content (awareness and communication skills); line manager specific content (support and managing absence); and first response skills. The inclusion of interactive components, real-life experiences and tailored content in training is likely to lead to improve mental health and wellbeing.

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Author: Narayanasamy et al.

IOSH Mental health first aid in the workplace: A feasibility study (2018)

IOSH Mental health first aid in the workplace: A feasibility study (2018)

This review sought to compare Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to alternative training; understand the implementation issues within 81 organisations through survey data from those who had attended an MHFA course; and gain insight into the implementation, use and utility of MHFA by interviewing participants. The review included 25 mental health awareness courses and 14 suicide awareness courses. Success of MHFA training was found to be enhanced by a clear rationale for the introduction of MHFA, motivated MHFA co-ordinators and MHFA organisational networks. Barriers to implementation included challenges with measuring the impact, lack of clear boundaries for the MHFA role and inconsistent strategies to identify trained MHFA persons and promote this role. Other specific issues around the MHFA course are discussed (e.g. course length, ability to evaluate MHFA and refresher training opportunities). Overall, findings suggest participants were positive towards MHFA, while it was acknowledged that barriers to the success of the MHFA role included: challenges in measuring impact, having clear role boundaries within the MHFA role and inconsistencies with selecting and promoting individuals for the role.

 
Author: Narayanasamy et al.

IOSH Mental health first aid in the workplace: A feasibility study (2018)

This review sought to compare Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to alternative training; understand the implementation issues within 81 organisations through survey data from those who had attended an MHFA course; and gain insight into the implementation, use and utility of MHFA by interviewing participants. The review included 25 mental health awareness courses and 14 suicide awareness courses. Success of MHFA training was found to be enhanced by a clear rationale for the introduction of MHFA, motivated MHFA co-ordinators and MHFA organisational networks. Barriers to implementation included challenges with measuring the impact, lack of clear boundaries for the MHFA role and inconsistent strategies to identify trained MHFA persons and promote this role. Other specific issues around the MHFA course are discussed (e.g. course length, ability to evaluate MHFA and refresher training opportunities). Overall, findings suggest participants were positive towards MHFA, while it was acknowledged that barriers to the success of the MHFA role included: challenges in measuring impact, having clear role boundaries within the MHFA role and inconsistencies with selecting and promoting individuals for the role.

 

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Author: Bell et al.

HSE: Summary of the evidence on the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in the workplace (2018)

HSE: Summary of the evidence on the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in the workplace (2018)

A rapid scoping evidence review was conducted to consider the impact, influence and application of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training within the workplace. 22 previously published studies were included in the review. Key findings include: of the small number of high quality published occupational studies which have included MHFA, many have design and quality limitations; the evidence surrounding the adapation of MHFA training content for a workplace context is limited; evidence around MHFA training improving trainees' awareness of mental ill-health conditions, including signs and symptoms is consistent; evidence surrounding MHFA leading to sustained improvements in trainees' ability to support a colleauge experiencing mental ill-health is limited; there is no supporting evidence to suggest that MHFA training has improved the management of mental health within the workplace. This review highlights some key gaps of knowledge around the effectiveness of MHFA within the workplace.

Author: Bell et al.

HSE: Summary of the evidence on the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in the workplace (2018)

A rapid scoping evidence review was conducted to consider the impact, influence and application of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training within the workplace. 22 previously published studies were included in the review. Key findings include: of the small number of high quality published occupational studies which have included MHFA, many have design and quality limitations; the evidence surrounding the adapation of MHFA training content for a workplace context is limited; evidence around MHFA training improving trainees' awareness of mental ill-health conditions, including signs and symptoms is consistent; evidence surrounding MHFA leading to sustained improvements in trainees' ability to support a colleauge experiencing mental ill-health is limited; there is no supporting evidence to suggest that MHFA training has improved the management of mental health within the workplace. This review highlights some key gaps of knowledge around the effectiveness of MHFA within the workplace.

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Author: Whitmore et al.

RAND Europe: Promising practices for health and wellbeing at work (2018)

RAND Europe: Promising practices for health and wellbeing at work (2018)

Using the NESTA standards this research uses case studies to examine the current state of workplace interventions and the quality of evidence that is being conducted on such interventions. Over a 5-week period, 117 submissions of data were collected. The research concluded that: the majority of case studies were submitted by intervention providers (rather than organisations implementing the organisations or independent evaluations); interventions to address mental health were often cited in the submissions received; although organisations provided substantial evidence of the impact of their intervention on health/wellbeing outcomes, few interventions reached a grade above Nesta Level 2 i.e. where data shows positive change but causality cannot be confirmed; a variety of data sources were collected by organisations to explore the impact of their wellbeing interventions, including health measures, business indicators and unstructured feedback. This paper highlights while there is some data to suggest good practice across organisations, more rigorous evidence is needed when evaluating the effectiveness of wellbeing interventions within the workplace. 

Author: Whitmore et al.

RAND Europe: Promising practices for health and wellbeing at work (2018)

Using the NESTA standards this research uses case studies to examine the current state of workplace interventions and the quality of evidence that is being conducted on such interventions. Over a 5-week period, 117 submissions of data were collected. The research concluded that: the majority of case studies were submitted by intervention providers (rather than organisations implementing the organisations or independent evaluations); interventions to address mental health were often cited in the submissions received; although organisations provided substantial evidence of the impact of their intervention on health/wellbeing outcomes, few interventions reached a grade above Nesta Level 2 i.e. where data shows positive change but causality cannot be confirmed; a variety of data sources were collected by organisations to explore the impact of their wellbeing interventions, including health measures, business indicators and unstructured feedback. This paper highlights while there is some data to suggest good practice across organisations, more rigorous evidence is needed when evaluating the effectiveness of wellbeing interventions within the workplace. 

x
Author: Wilson, Martin & Spiegelhalter

Institute for Employment Studies (IES) and Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB): Understanding the conditions for successful mental health training for managers (2018)

Institute for Employment Studies (IES) and Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB): Understanding the conditions for successful mental health training for managers (2018)

This research, carried out by IES on behalf of RSSB, reviews the current literature surrounding mental health training for managers. The report highlights an overview of the current UK evidence base on the effectiveness of training, of which the authors note, only a handful were relevant and high-quality evaluations and conclude that it is still unclear to as which aspects of training result in a successful outcome. Details of interventions currently available are provided. The authors recommend mental health training for managers should include core content (awareness and communication skills); line manager specific content (support and managing absence); and first response skills. The inclusion of interactive components, real-life experiences and tailored content in training is likely to lead to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Author: Wilson, Martin & Spiegelhalter

Institute for Employment Studies (IES) and Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB): Understanding the conditions for successful mental health training for managers (2018)

This research, carried out by IES on behalf of RSSB, reviews the current literature surrounding mental health training for managers. The report highlights an overview of the current UK evidence base on the effectiveness of training, of which the authors note, only a handful were relevant and high-quality evaluations and conclude that it is still unclear to as which aspects of training result in a successful outcome. Details of interventions currently available are provided. The authors recommend mental health training for managers should include core content (awareness and communication skills); line manager specific content (support and managing absence); and first response skills. The inclusion of interactive components, real-life experiences and tailored content in training is likely to lead to improve mental health and wellbeing.

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