Elevating well-being in the workplace
How do you feel at work? Mental health issues in the workplace are a pervasive challenge in Europe. They affect a significant number of workers who experience work-related stress, insomnia, depressive episodes or burnout syndrome. These not only lead to loss of productivity, but affect the daily lives of working people as well as their leisure activities and relationships with family and friends. It is paramount that we recognise the urgency of this issue and design effective multilevel assessments and interventions for mental health promotion in public organisations and SMEs.
Advancing workplace mental health through a multilevel toolkit
The EU-funded H-WORK project aims to improve workplace mental health and well-being by bringing together a multidisciplinary team with expertise in e-health solutions and communication. The project has meticulously designed and validated assessment, evaluation and intervention strategies for promoting mental health in the workplace through a strategic approach. “We have reached out to 10 European countries and a total of 1 500 participants to validate our multilevel interventions,” explains project coordinator Luca Pietrantoni. The assessment toolkit uses semi-structured interview protocols and surveys to analyse job demands and resources, offering a thorough understanding of employees' mental health. The evaluation toolkit complements this by arming end-users with resources for effective monitoring and evaluation of interventions, including both qualitative and quantitative measures. The implementation toolkit incorporates a range of interventions targeting different organisational levels. From individual-level interventions like technology-assisted stress management to group-level interventions that focus on team processes, the toolkit covers a spectrum of strategies including positive leadership coaching. Organisational-level interventions aim to reorganise work structures for enhanced well-being.
Innovation platform
The knowledge generated during H-WORK has been compiled into the innovation platform which provides accessible digital resources to enhance workplace well-being. The platform features tools such as benchmarking, a support system for organisational interventions and an economic calculator. Notably, it draws insights from international scientific research funded by the EU, offering a wealth of collaborative expertise. The benchmarking tool allows organisations to measure their performance, ensuring alignment with European standards. The support system provides actionable improvement suggestions, while the economic calculator assists in estimating cost savings from organisational interventions. The platform also includes practical advice and guidelines for a productive workplace environment.
Outcomes and future directions
Project findings highlight the critical importance of conducting a thorough analysis of the needs of each organisation at all levels. While individual-level interventions such as resilience training and mindfulness were promoted, their effectiveness was not universally observed. H-WORK also underscores the importance of multi-level, health-promoting interventions that span individual, group, leadership and organisational levels. “The project addresses broader challenges and contributes to a more holistic improvement in mental health,” highlights Pietrantoni. Looking ahead, digital burnout and the potential displacement of jobs due to automation and AI emerge as potential threats to mental health in the workplace. These must be addressed through a reskilling revolution that focuses on interventions and support systems that foster a culture of lifelong learning and mental adaptability.
Keywords
H-WORK, intervention, mental health, workplace, toolkit, platform