Burnaby, British Columbia — Workers who believe that their employer supports their well-being are more likely to be forthcoming about their mental health issues, results of recent study show.
A team of Canadian researchers used surveys to examine the connection between workers’ willingness to share concerns and actual disclosure rates. Results show that respondents were 55% more likely to speak about their mental health struggles when they felt they had their employer’s support.
The researchers identified three key components that workers use to gauge whether they feel supported enough to share their struggles:
- Anticipated discrimination and stigma
- The presence of organizational resources
- The availability of social support
“People notice things and log them, sometimes consciously and sometimes not,” lead study author Zhanna Lyubykh, assistant professor of management and organization studies at Simon Fraser University, said in a press release. “Did they see someone who recently disclosed get passed over for a promotion? Are open, understanding conversations about mental health encouraged and happening among co-workers?
“Did it take six months and 100 forms for a co-worker to actually get access to the supports they were entitled to? And when that person received those supports, were they really beneficial?”
Lyubykh added that employers have the “responsibility and power to change things. And change starts at the leadership level.”
The study was published in the journal Human Resource Management.
