Supporting the Sharing of Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace: Findings from Comparative Case Study Research at Two Mental Health Services
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
- MH professionals identifying with LE, publicly or privately (MHPLE);
- MH professionals not identifying with LE (MHP);
- staff in designated LE roles (Peer Workers);
- staff in supervisory roles (Supervisors) from the above groups.
3. Results
3.1. Participant Characteristics
3.2. Contextual Factors Supporting Revelation of Mental Health (MH) Challenges
3.2.1. Perceived Organizational Support
“I was looking at peer work roles and, in the end, decided against it because I wasn’t really comfortable with the level of disclosure that is implicit in the peer role. I was really reluctant to have that on my resume.”(Finley, MHPLE, Organization B)
3.2.2. Perceived Supervisor Support
“My supervisor […] creates a safe space for me to be able to explore those issues […] so that, […] I’m able to […] develop my relationship with LE and sharing in a way that supports the work and our consumers, as well.”(Yarden, MHPLE, Organization B)
3.2.3. Individual Differences
“By being myself fully, I felt it might allow space for other people to feel they can be themselves fully, […] feeling permission to be themselves and to be their authentic selves…. can create… contribute to the change that is maybe needed.”(Tanveer, MHPLE, Organization B)
“The older you get, and the more senior you get in your position, the more people value what you say […]. When you […] do disclose something, that it carries a lot of weight. And so, it’s important to be very careful about how you do that and judicious.”(Quinn, MHPLE, Organization A)
3.3. Identity Management Behaviours in the Workplace
“I think, it is good to share so they can see someone that’s going to work and seeming, relatively, fine… and, having that diagnosis. It’s part of breaking down the stigma.”(Neeru, Peer worker, Organization A)
3.4. Sharing Lived Experience
3.5. Team Culture and Type of Sharing
“We are a multi-disciplinary team but there’s no hierarchy at all. It’s a very flat structure. [...] there’s no person or professional on the team is more or less than anyone else. [...] and I’ve only received encouragement to […] discuss issues, and consumers, and struggles with the team.”(Halcyon, Peer worker, Organization B)
“Most people are okay with looking at… at naming their strengths and weaknesses and working together around that… which is quite challenging, really. […] It’s hard but we’re getting really good at it. It’s a great environment now, and necessary for the work. Like, we’ve got a great healthy team… really supportive team.”(Blake, Peer worker, Organization B)
3.6. Consequences of Revealing and Sharing Lived Experience (LE)
3.6.1. Lifting the Burden
3.6.2. Sharing the Load
“So, the ones that you care about, and they care about you, you actually would go out of your way to help them […]. If you’re closer to someone they naturally volunteer to help you more and you feel more supported. If you don’t have that, it’s just stressful.”(Melissa, MHPLE, Organization A)
3.6.3. Bringing My Whole Self to Work
“I guess, what’s developed from that is a feeling of real satisfaction within my role because I feel like I can bring all of myself to this work. It’s not like I have to put on a professional façade and feel like I have a whole lot of experience that might be informing the way I do my work but that I need to keep a secret.”(Yarden, MHPLE, Organization B)
3.6.4. Once Bitten, Twice Shy
4. Discussion
- planned and unplanned, individual and team “check-ins”;
- mutual sharing and support by colleagues and supervisors;
- opportunities for individual and team reflection.
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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MHPLE | MHP | Peer Workers | Supervisors 1 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Organization A | 10 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
Organization B | 11 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
Discipline | No. of Participants |
---|---|
Social Work | 10 |
Non-clinical, MH related 1 | 9 |
Nursing | 5 |
Psychology | 5 |
Other clinical 2 | 5 |
Peer Support | 5 |
Occupational Therapy | 2 |
Psychiatry | 2 |
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King, A.J.; Fortune, T.L.; Byrne, L.; Brophy, L.M. Supporting the Sharing of Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace: Findings from Comparative Case Study Research at Two Mental Health Services. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 12831. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312831
King AJ, Fortune TL, Byrne L, Brophy LM. Supporting the Sharing of Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace: Findings from Comparative Case Study Research at Two Mental Health Services. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(23):12831. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312831
Chicago/Turabian StyleKing, Alicia Jean, Tracy Lee Fortune, Louise Byrne, and Lisa Mary Brophy. 2021. "Supporting the Sharing of Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace: Findings from Comparative Case Study Research at Two Mental Health Services" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 23: 12831. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312831