Cultivating a culture of mental health in organisations: Reading the room

Abstract

Orientation: There is a worldwide emphasis on mental health in the workplace to support employee well-being and promote organisational performance. A core part of the roles that industrial and organisational psychologists (IOPs) assume in the workplace includes understanding mental health and exploring the root causes of mental health issues.

Research purpose: This article highlights the importance of IOPs in developing strategies, frameworks and mechanisms to address mental health and well-being in the workplace.

Motivation for the study: Industrial psychology practitioners must consider trends and strategies to effectively manage mental health in the workplace. These practitioners must be at the forefront of developing strategies to address mental health issues in the workplace.

Research approach/design and method: This article is an opinion paper that includes a review of the literature and opinions of the authors.

Main findings: The management of mental health in the workplace should ideally combine individual interventions with organisational structural changes. Furthermore, industrial psychology practitioners are uniquely positioned to implement these strategies, leveraging their scientific-practitioner expertise to create healthier workplaces.

Practical/managerial implications: Industrial psychology practitioners are best suited to contribute to theoretical, policy-making and practical applications in managing workplace mental health. This includes exploring the drivers and enablers of mental health issues from the perspective of behavioural scientists.

Contribution/value-add: This article contributes to the broader discourse on workplace mental health by emphasising the role of industrial psychology practitioners in managing mental health effectively. It explores how a strategic framework for organisations could address mental health challenges in the workplace.