Research and practice-based evidence to support employees ......Research and practice-based evidence...

Research and practice-based

evidence to support employees

with depression

Dwayne Van Eerd, Institute for Work & Health

WWDPI Webinar, October 1, 2019

• The research was supported by funding from WorkSafeBC.

• The Institute for Work & Health operates with the support of the Province of Ontario.

• The views expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Province of Ontario or WorkSafeBC.

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Acknowledgments

1. Research project: context, objectives, methods, results

2. A practical guide

3. Summary

WWDPI Webinar: Oct 1, 2019

Presentation Overview

GUIDE

Practitioner

expertise

e.g., ergonomist

Best available

research

evidence

Stakeholder

experience

e.g., worker

The Institute for Work & Health (IWH) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization based in Toronto, Canada.

Our goal is to protect and improve the health and safety of working people by providing useful, relevant research in two key areas: (1) preventing work-related injury and illness, and (2) promoting recovery and work functioning following injury and illness.

Our work provides impartial, evidence-based guidance to government policy-makers, health and safety associations, workers and employers, union and labour representatives, occupational health & safety professionals, disability management professionals and clinicians.

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Institute for Work & Health

IWH:

Dwayne Van Eerd

Kim Cullen

Emma Irvin

Morgane Le Pouésard

Siobhan Cardoso

Monique Gignac

Quenby Mahood

CAMH:

Anita Dubey

Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health

Sciences:

Judy Geary

BC:

• WorkSafeBC

• BC Federation of Labour

• Construction Labour Relations Association of BC

• Mood Disorders Association of BC

Alberta:

• Alberta Workers' Health Centre

Ontario:

Several IWH stakeholders representing:

• Preventions System Partners (HSAs),

• Labour

• Employer representatives

• Practitioners (e.g., EI network members)

National:

• UNIFOR

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The Research Team Our Stakeholders

Nearly three million Canadians experience depression annually, often in prime working years, ages 24 to 44 (CAMH, 2016).

Depression costs the Canadian economy at least $32.3 billion annually (Conference Board of Canada, 2013).

Workers with depression:

o Lose significantly more health-related productive time (Adler, 2006)

o Have higher rates of absenteeism and disability (Kessler, 1999)

o Experience higher rates of job turnover (Lerner, 2004)

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Depression in the workplace

There are systematic reviews on the effectiveness of approaches that could be used to support workplace accommodations, return-to-work, and reduce associated productivity losses.

However, the scientific evidence on depression specific workplace-based interventions to date is not very strong. Despite the level of research evidence, workplaces are developing and implementing policies and practices related to depression in the workplace.

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Evidence gaps

• Prevention/screening/assessment in the workplace (e.g. job analysis)

• Non-judgmental listening in the workplace

• Information in the workplace (e.g. Human Resource policies)

• Job modification (e.g. flexible scheduling, work from home)

• Employee Assistance Program

• External resources (e.g. community and family support)

• There are no supports for depression in my workplace

• Other

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What supports, resources, services and/or accommodations are

available to continue working and/or return to work?

• Identify the best current practices in workplaces for workers experiencing depression.

• Create a practical guide to aid workplaces in implementing these strategies in workplaces.

Research project objectives

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GUIDE

Practitioner

expertise

e.g., ergonomist

Best available

research

evidence

Stakeholder

experience

e.g., worker

1. eSurvey: 10 minutes

2. Interviews: 45-60 minutes (semi-structured)

3. Focus groups: 60-90 minutes (semi-structured)

Questions covered:

• Demographics (age, sex, work role, tenure, etc)

• Experience with depression (as worker or manager or practitioner)

• Supports, resources, services and/or programs

• What was most helpful

10

Methods

WWDPI Webinar: Oct 1, 2019

Data collection and synthesis were

based on the Public Health Agency of

Canada’s best practices stages for

evidence-based decision making.

The research evidence supports the use of CBT programs with a specific focus on addressing work issues.

Workplace strategies, including at least two of the following three different areas, are most effective:

• The worker is provided with access to health services, either at work or in settings linked to work.

• The worker is supported by RTW planning and coordination.

• The workplace addresses work modifications and supervisor training on work modification.

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Results: Findings from research

Results: Survey participants

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# of survey responses: 453

• 66% Staff/employees

• 23% managers, HR professionals, or OHS role

• 71% female

• 64% in ‘45 or above’ age range

• 77% in permanent full-time jobs

46%

45%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Perc

enta

ge o

f R

esp

on

den

ts*

What services are available to you (employee)?

What services did you find most helpful (employee)?

What services do you offer at your workplace (manager)?

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Results: Available supports

Question: Supports available for depression

Barriers % employee % manager

Health and safety not a priority at workplace 21 24

Not sure who is responsible for supporting employees with depression

25 25

Little knowledge about depression at workplace 34 42

Not many programs or accommodations available 27 20

No programs or accommodations available 14 4

Managers/supervisors not supportive 44 26

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Results: Barriers to implementation

Question: Barriers to accessing/implementing supports for depression

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

No strategy Poor Good Very Good/Excellent

Perc

enta

ge o

f R

esp

on

den

ts

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Results: Workplace rating

On a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 = no strategy and 5 = excellent

48%

52%

Results: Interviews/focus groups

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# of participants: 21•Subset of survey participants•Even split between ON and BC•Even split between employees and individuals in managing roles

• Lack of awareness and psychological hazards

• Supportive workplace culture

• Flexible approaches

• Communication about process

• Coordination with external resources

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Results: Interviews/focus group themes

Communication about process Flexible approaches

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What we learned | Quotes

“multiple forms of supports and lots of

latitude (are important to help keep

people at work)” -Manager

“the RTW check in process should

stretch 6-9 months into the future”

- Employee

1. Research project: context, objectives, methods, results

2. A practical guide

3. Summary

WWDPI Webinar: Oct 1, 2019

Presentation Overview

GUIDE

Practitioner

expertise

e.g., ergonomist

Best available

research

evidence

Stakeholder

experience

e.g., worker

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Guide | Introduction

• Guide content from 3 evidence sources

• Positive, action-oriented content

• Illustrative case studies

• Focus is on implementation

• Icons used for various workplace parties

3 main sections:

1. Workplace Culture

2. Workplace Processes

3. Workplace and non-workplace resources

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Guide | Sections

• Mental health awareness and psychological risk factors

• Genuine and caring communication

• Mental health training

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Guide | Section - Workplace culture

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Genuine and caring communication

Genuine and caring communication

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Workplace processes

• Identification and early intervention

• Planning and facilitating return-to-work

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Guide | Section - Workplace processes

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E.g. Planning and facilitating return-to-work

E.g. Planning and facilitating return-to-work

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• Employee Assistance Programs

• Non-workplace resources

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Guide | Section - Workplace and non-workplace

resources

E.g. EAP Resources

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E.g. Non-workplace resources

1. Research project: context, objectives, methods, results

2. A practical guide

3. Summary

WWDPI Webinar: Oct 1, 2019

Presentation Overview

GUIDE

Practitioner

expertise

e.g., ergonomist

Best available

research

evidence

Stakeholder

experience

e.g., worker

• Our research synthesized evidence from three sources: scientific literature, practitioner expertise, worker experience (Sackett, 1996) and used a method guided by PHAC best practices approach.

• Synthesizing practice and scientific evidence can help guide policies and practices to support workers with depression.

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Discussion

Study results reveal the importance of the following workplace supports for depression:

1) Non-judgemental listening

2) Flexible individualized supports

3) External treatment/support resources (particularly CBT programs with a work focus)

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Summary 1: Supports

Facilitators/barriers to supporting workers with depression include:

1) Culture (awareness)

2) Communication about process

3) Responsibility and knowledge

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Summary 2: Implementation

https://www.iwh.on.ca/tools-and-guides/evidence-informed-guide-to-supporting-people-with-depression-in-workplace

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Guide dissemination

Further discussion and questions

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We invite the global prevention community to theXXII World Congress on Safety & Health at Work

October 4-7, 2020Toronto, Canada

Metro Toronto Convention Centre

www.safety2020Canada.com@WorldCongressCA

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38WWDPI Webinar: Oct 1, 2019

This document/slide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

Thank you

dvaneerd@iwh.on.ca

Dwayne Van EerdScientist

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