Research on Workplace Programs, Practices & Policies

The last few years have seen a wealth of new research supporting a greater emphasis on mental health at the workplace. With mental health at the forefront of many employers’ minds, research is now more than ever providing convincing evidence that mental health matters to the bottom line. The following are some key documents that provide an overview of the research related to workplace mental health from the past few years.

> A Mentally Healthy Workforce: It's Good for Business (2006)

The many stumbling blocks to investing in mental health services for employees are addressed in this report from the Partnership. In addition, employers will find a step-by-step blueprint for creating and sustaining a mentally healthy workforce, including examples of programs already in use by employers across the country.

> An Employer’s Guide to Behavioral Health Services (2005)

From the National Business Group on Health, a roadmap and recommendations for evaluating, designing and implementing behavioral health services.

>How Much Does Quality Mental Health Care Profit Employers? (2005)

Published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, research shows that employers who provide higher quality evaluation and treatment of depression and anxiety will see overall medical costs fall, employees miss fewer days of work, and productivity rise.

> Mental Health in the Labour Force: Literature Review and Research GAP Analysis (2007)

This extensive review of research was conducted by Watson Wyatt Canada for Homewood and the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health and includes recommendations for future directions.

>Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General (1999)

This groundbreaking document, the first Surgeon General Report ever to focus entirely on mental health, features an extensive literature review, information from mental health providers and consumers, and action steps to improve mental health in the United States.

Survey Research

Survey research also points to the need for better education on mental healthcare and how it impacts the workplace.

>Innerworkings: A Look at Mental Health in Today's Workplace (2007)

A survey conducted by the publication Employee Benefit News and the Partnership, Innerworkings: A Look at Mental Health in Today's Workplace points to an overwhelming need for better education of frontline managers and employees on this critical health issue.

>Meritain Health Survey (2007)

Results from a new survey conducted by Meritain Health in collaboration with the Partnership shows that employees know mental health is important to their overall health and that stress significantly affects them in the workplace, yet more than half of employers do not address mental health in the workplace and many employees don’t understand their mental health benefits.