Understanding the cost of mental health at work: an integrative framework

Hassard, Juliet; Teoh, Kevin; Thomson, Louise; Blake, Holly

Abstract

Internationally, there is growing recognition of the social and economic impact of work-related stress and mental ill-health; and, in turn, of the relative importance of promoting mental wellbeing and preventing the onset of mental disorders at work and within the community. Understanding the financial cost of mental ill-health and work-related stress to society and organisations is an important avenue by which to assess the magnitude and significance of an occupational or public health problem (Leigh, 2006; Tarricone, 2006; Jo, 2014). However, it can also act an important source of information in which to develop the business case for health-centered workplace interventions and public policy. The aim of this book chapter is to to cultivate a better understanding and informed discourse at the interface between the disciplines of psychology and economics. In particular, we seek to integrate our empirical understanding of the link between work, mental health and organisational performance within an economic methodological perspective.

Citation

Hassard, J., Teoh, K., Thomson, L., & Blake, H. (2021). Understanding the cost of mental health at work: an integrative framework. In T. Wall, C. Cooper, & P. Brough (Eds.), The SAGE Handbook of Organisational Wellbeing. SAGE Publications

• Acceptance Date: Aug 14, 2020
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Deposit Date: Aug 5, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 1, 2023
• Publisher: Sage
• Book Title: The SAGE Handbook of Organisational Wellbeing
• Chapter Number: 2
• ISBN: 9781529704860
• Keywords: Business case, mental health, work-related stress, work, cost of illness, psychosocial work environment
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4813373
• Publisher URL: https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/the-sage-handbook-of-organizational-wellbeing/book269424