Proceedings from a National Summit on Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being: A Focus on the Graduate Academic Environment

Enid Chung Roemer; Ron Z Goetzel; Meghan F Davis; Ying Zhang; Karen B Kent; Jim Harter; Ebony O McGee; Joan M Troester; Lara Hilton; Kelcey J Stratton; Jay Vietas; Ellen J MacKenzie

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000003205

Proceedings from a National Summit on Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being: A Focus on the Graduate Academic Environment

J Occup Environ Med. 2024 Aug 19. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003205. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Enid Chung Roemer, Ron Z Goetzel, Meghan F Davis, Ying Zhang, Karen B Kent, Jim Harter¹, Ebony O McGee², Joan M Troester³, Lara Hilton⁴, Kelcey J Stratton⁵, Jay Vietas⁶, Ellen J MacKenzie⁷

Affiliations

¹ Gallup, Washington, DC.
² Johns Hopkins School of Education, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
³ The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.
⁴ University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
⁵ University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
⁶ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH.
⁷ Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.

PMID: 39164875
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003205

Abstract

Objective: To spotlight the challenges, gaps, and opportunities to improve workforce mental health and well-being in higher education institutions (HEIs).

Methods: We convened a full-day summit of subject matter experts from academia, business, government, and practice to share research and best practices on workplace mental health.

Results: Highlights from the summit are presented in this paper covering the importance of leadership and culture; the mental health costs associated with being a Black STEM scholar; the role of the environment; case studies of three university mental health and well-being programs; and the future of work.

Conclusions: Establishing a culture of caring requires leadership commitment; strategic planning; accountability and shared responsibility; and measurement and evaluation. HEI leaders are called to lead by example; foster community partnerships; adopt a Total Worker Health framework; and regularly evaluate progress.