None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
There is considerable evidence that harsh managerial styles influence workplace efficiency and worker wellbeing. In contrast, supportive managerial styles that are characterized by empathy and non-judgmental attitudes to workers are associated with more positive workplaces and productivity. This issue is particularly influential in organisations that are characterized by demanding work duties, where mental health issues are more prevalent and contribute to absenteeism. The goal of this research is to evaluate the extent to which training managers in NSW Police can result in more supportive behavior of managers, and promote better help seeking in officers with mental health problems. This project is being conducted in collaboration with NSW Police. Sergeants in 6 regional commands in NSW will be trained in how to (a) provide supportive managerial assistance to officers under their command, (b) identify officers who may experience mental health issues or be dissatisfied with their work environment, (c) engage in supportive discussions in a way that promotes a better sense of employee control and work satisfaction, and (d) offer them confidential referrals for assistance they may need with personal issues. These trainings will be conducted in face-to-face group sessions in the 6 commands (each one comprising 10-20 sergeants) in 1 x 2.5-hour session. The outcomes of the project will be compared with 6 matched commands in NSW (identified by NSW Police). The primary outcomes of the project will be sergeants' reports of frequency of referring an officer for mental health assistance. Secondary outcomes will be knowledge of appropriate strategies to provide to officers; this data will be obtained from sergeants when they complete a brief questionnaire that is emailed to them by NSW Police. The primary outcome timepoint will be 26 weeks after the program.
Interventions
There are two arms to this trial. Arm 1: Manager Training Program. Arm 2: Control Assessment. In the Manager Training Program that was developed specifically for this project, sergeants will receive from a clinical psychologist 1 x 2.5 hour training in how to detect mental health problems in police officers, how to conduct a conversation with the officer, and how to offer confidential referral advice to seek professional mental health care. These sessions will be conducted face-to-face in groups
There are two arms to this trial. Arm 1: Manager Training Program. Arm 2: Control Assessment. In the Manager Training Program that was developed specifically for this project, sergeants will receive from a clinical psychologist 1 x 2.5 hour training in how to detect mental health problems in police officers, how to conduct a conversation with the officer, and how to offer confidential referral advice to seek professional mental health care. These sessions will be conducted face-to-face in groups of 10-20 sergeants, and will involve instruction from the clinical psychologist aided by powerpoint displays, and small group discussion. Sergeants will be emailed a brief summary of these points and referral options. The duration of the study for any participant will conclude after a 6-month follow-up assessment, resulting in participation duration of 26 weeks. Adherence will be assessed by monitoring participants' attendance at the training session via a checklist maintained by the clinical psychologist.
Sponsors
UNSW Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Sergeants in the NSW Police Force working in commands identified by NSW Police to participate in the trial.
Exclusion criteria
None
Outcome results
None listed