Web-Based Interactive Training for Managers (Managing Minds at Work) to Promote Mental Health at Work: Pilot...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Digital Health Interventions
• Workplace Mental Health

Background:

• Line managers are crucial for preventing poor workplace mental health but often lack adequate skills and knowledge.
• Existing mental health interventions for managers primarily focus on awareness rather than practical skill development.
• The Managing Minds at Work (MMW) program was developed as an evidence-based, web-based solution to bridge this gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot the MMW intervention and assess its feasibility for line managers across various company sizes.
• To evaluate the perceived suitability and effectiveness of the MMW training program.
• To determine the feasibility of collecting outcome data through various methods.

Main Methods:

• A 2-arm pilot cluster randomized controlled trial involving 24 organizations and 224 line managers.
• Intervention group received the self-guided, web-based MMW training; control group had a 3-month waitlist.
• Data collection included baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-ups, manager/stakeholder interviews, and module feedback forms.

Main Results:

• Recruitment targets for organizations and managers were exceeded; 3-month retention was good, but 6-month retention declined.
• The MMW intervention was found to be acceptable, usable, and useful by managers and stakeholders.
• Significant improvements were observed in managers' confidence, knowledge, well-being, and literacy from baseline to 3 months.

Conclusions:

• The pilot feasibility trial strongly supports the usability and acceptability of the MMW digital training and research design.
• MMW demonstrates potential to enhance line managers' confidence and competencies in promoting workplace mental health.
• Key considerations for future large-scale implementation and evaluation were identified.