This 5-year retrospective study (the reviewed study) provides an alternative approach to combatting stress, assisting with stress and the impact this has on and within the working environment. The study first examines the impact, including the economic impact, of long-term mental illness in the context of anxiety and depression within the work environment and how barriers to accessing healthcare for less severe psychological illnesses impede a planned and timely return to work. Another aspect identified was the complexity of separating out the work-related illness from the home-related factors.
A proactive approach was then taken by the City of Cardiff Council as a result of their employees not being able to access the local health services. This resulted in the development of a partnership with the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and utilised mental health nurses trained in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Protocols were established, with the majority of staff members of the council absent from work for more than 4 weeks being referred to the CBT service.
This retrospective evaluative study used data from September 2009–September 2014. The referrals to the services were considered to be a representative sample.
The results of this study showed that the introduction of CBT to manage anxiety and stress in the workplace was effective in assisting with the return to work, and enabled the individual to reintegrate and remain in employment. An encouraging aspect of the study was that this type of intervention was positive for both long-term and short-term absences.
A negative aspect identified was the high dropout rate, a significant proportion of which were teachers (65%) which was primarily due to them not being able to be released from their responsibilities to attend sessions. This is an area that needs further investigation in order to address the identified barriers.
The limitations of the study are discussed; however, rather than this being a focus, there should be acknowledgement of this solution-focused approach that was taken by the council with regard to psychological illness and the economic impact that would have continued if left unmanaged. While this study was from a healthcare approach, a similar parallel study relating to the economic impact is worth considering. The costs of introducing CBT were primarily the salary costs of registered nurses undertaking the therapy.
Many aspects of this study could be utilised by other organisations that work proactively with their employees to reduce workplace absenteeism.
Biography
Julia Hennessy is an educator and registered nurse. Her field of nursing is mental health and addictions. and her current area of focus and research is the non-regulated health workforce. She has been involved with health workforce development for a number of years, as well as the development of new programmes in education and new health services, including consultancy for the International Council of Nurses. Her current role is President of the Auckland Institute of Studies.