Understanding How Managers Deal With Mental Health at The Workplace: A Qualitative Approach

OBJECTIVE: More and more companies are offering specific training programs aimed at supporting managers in dealing with the mental health of their employees. Nevertheless, little is known about the individual impact factors and their effects in everyday management. METHODS: Using a qualitative research approach, 20 managers were asked about their experiences with a training program after 1 and 12 months. RESULTS: Analysis showed an overall great interest and open attitude among the participants. Still, ambivalences emerged when it came to implementing the training and actually dealing with mental health problems. Typifying the participants showed different stages to describe the managers' individual attitudes concerning mental health at the workplace. CONCLUSION: The results could hold great potential for more targeted individualization of manager training courses in the field of mental health. However, further research is needed.