Exploring the Content Validity of the Workplace Mental Health Risk Assessment

Mental illness is currently the leading cause for disability claims in Canadian organizations. A Workplace Mental Health Risk Assessment (WMHRA) was developed to facilitate primary prevention initiatives. This thesis explored the content validity of the items generated for this assessment. Two rounds of the Delphi method were utilized to gain consensus from various experts regarding the importance of items. Experts included workers, human resource personnel, supervisors, occupational therapists and physicians. Consensus was achieved on 18 items to be maintained and 10 were eliminated, and rewording was required for 23 items. Therefore, at this stage of the development process, the WMHRA includes 36 items. The WMHRA aims to assist organizations with the crucial shift from reaction to prevention of mental illness in the workplace

Directions for advancing the study of work transitions in the 21st century

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to share the details, outcomes and deliverables from an international workshop on work transitions in London, Ontario, Canada. Participants: Researchers, graduate students, and community group members met to identity ways to advance the knowledge base of strategies to enhance work participation for those in the most disadvantaged groups within society. Methods: A participatory approach was used in this workshop with presentations by researchers and graduate students. This approach included dialogue and discussion with community members. In addition, small group dialogue and debate, world cafe discussions, written summaries of group discussion and reflection boards were used to bring new ideas to the discussion and to build upon what we know. Findings: Two research imperatives and six research recommendations were identified to advance global dialogue on work transitions and to advance the knowledge base. Occupational justice can be used to support future research directions in the study of work transitions. Conclusions: Moving forward requires a commitment of community of researchers, clinicians and stakeholders to address work disparities and implement solutions to promote participation in work