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Created on : 19.06.2024 Last modified : 24.07.2024

ReMeHealP: REsearcher MEntal health Promotion
Inventory of services protecting mental health in academia and researchers’ awareness on their availability and utility

Switzerland, 2022 - 2023
DSTE

Reference ID

10.16909-DATASET-50

DOI

Producer(s)

Guseva Canu, Irina

Collections

Department of occupational and environmental health (DSTE)

Metadata

Identification

Survey ID number

10.16909-DATASET-50
Title

ReMeHealP: REsearcher MEntal health Promotion
Subtitle

Inventory of services protecting mental health in academia and researchers’ awareness on their availability and utility
Abbreviation or Acronym

ReMeHealP
Country
Name Country code
Switzerland CHE
Abstract

Objective: To make an inventory of available occupational health services (OHS) in European high education institutions (HEI) and assess the researchers’ awareness regarding their availability, accessibility, and usefulness.

Methods: The protocol sequentially combining a mapping study of OHS in a country- and HEI-specific manner and face-to-face semi-structured interviews with researchers from considered HEI was tested and validated in Switzerland. Results of thematic analysis of qualitative data using in MAXQDA software were triangulated with OSH inventory data.

Results: OSH available in 14 Swiss HEI were inventoried along with their type, content, and access conditions. On average, OHS at HEIs generally offer basic medical consultations, mental health counselling, and legal advice counselling. However, access to these services can vary according to the user’s status, often favoring students compared to HEI staff. In addition, the conditions and quality of OHS can vary between institutions, leading to inequalities in accessibility and the level of support offered. At one medical HEI, twelve out of 40 randomly selected researchers participated in the interviews. Time pressure and work overload were the most cited sources of stress, followed by communication issues. A desire for more open dialogue with managers regarding researchers’ concerns and needs, and for more supportive and trustful environment, especially when facing psychological distress was also common. This HEI provides 4 types of OHS, but less than half participants could name the services and even fewer could give more details about them. Participants expressed low interest and lack of confidence in the existing OHS. A unanimous refusal of interview recording underscored that mental health protection and promotion within academia is a sensitive topic.

Conclusion: The interviewed researchers lack awareness regarding available OHS protecting and promoting mental health. Despite a limited knowledge on available services, most have confidentiality-related concerns preventing their interest in inner-HEI provided services. External psychological help services appear more trustful and potentially more useful. Yet, access inequality might be a barrier for their use.
Kind of Data

Quantitative and Qualitative data
Unit of Analysis

• Quantitative data : Inventory data of high education institutions (HEI)- mapping of occupational health services available at 14 Swiss HEIs
• Qualitative data: individual stress and burnout prevention-current situation, OH service at the institution, Stres & burnout prevention – needs and improvement ideas

Version

Version Description

Version 1
Version Date

2024-06-17

Scope

Notes

This research combined a mapping study of OHS at 14 Swiss HEIs and semi-structured interviews with researchers. The inventory revealed that OHS commonly include basic medical consultations, mental health counselling, and legal advice, with access often favoring students over staff and varying in quality between institutions. Interviews at one medical HEI indicated that researchers experienced stress from time pressure and work overload, and desired better dialogue with managers. Awareness of OHS was low, with less than half of the participants able to name available services, and many expressing confidentiality concerns. Researchers showed a preference for external psychological help services due to trust issues.
Keywords
Occupational health services High Education Institutions Researchers Mental Health Burnout

Coverage

Geographic Coverage

Switzerland
Universe

High Education Institutions

Producers and sponsors

Primary investigators
Name Affiliation
Guseva Canu, Irina Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), Department of occupational and environmental health (DSTE))
Producers
Name Affiliation Role
Guseva Canu, Irina Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), Department of occupational and environmental health (DSTE)) Project Leadership, Grant Proposal Writing, Study design and methodology, Ethical oversight, Supervision and mentorship, Writing and editing
Mol, Stefan Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Amsterdam Writing and editing
Bober, Anita Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), Department of occupational and environmental health (DSTE)) Writing and submission of Protocol, developing questionnaire, data collection, data analysis
Noe, May Thet Nu Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), Department of occupational and environmental health (DSTE)) Writing and editing
Anais, Masserey Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), Department of occupational and environmental health (DSTE)) Writing and editing
Funding Agency/Sponsor
Name Abbreviation
ReMO COST Action CA19117, Researcher Mental Health Observatory ReMO COST

Sampling

Sampling Procedure

The sampling procedure comprises two phases. Initially, a mapping of Occupational Health Services (OHS) was carried out at 14 Swiss HEIs. Subsequently, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with researchers at these institutions. Out of 40 randomly selected researchers, 12 volunteered to participate. The interviews aimed to assess their current stress and burnout prevention practices, their awareness of OHS available at their institution, and their suggestions for improving stress and burnout prevention strategies.

Survey instrument

Questionnaires

TYPE OF RESEARCH INSTRUMENT : Quantitative aspects of OHS availability and the qualitative insights into researchers' mental health and OHS awareness

Data collection

Dates of Data Collection
Start End
2022/12/01 2023/07/31
Mode of data collection
  • Mixed-methods approach using both quantitative and qualitative techniques

Data processing

Data Editing

Mixed-methods approach where quantitative analysis focused on OHS inventory data and qualitative thematic analysis on interview data. Each method was conducted independently, and their insights were integrated during data interpretation through triangulation, combining insights to comprehensively explore OHS availability, researcher perceptions, and mental health support in HEIs.

Data appraisal

Estimates of Sampling Error

The study systematically documented and validated details of Occupational Health Services (OHS) across Swiss HEIs through quantitative methods. Concurrently, qualitative data was gathered via semi-structured interviews with researchers, and thematic analysis using MAXQDA software was employed to identify recurring themes and patterns. By integrating these quantitative and qualitative findings through triangulation, the study offered a comprehensive assessment of OHS availability, effectiveness, and their role in supporting mental health within HEIs.

Data Access

Access authority
Name Affiliation URL Email
Documentation and data unit Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Switzerland https://www.unisante.ch/fr/formation-recherche/bibliotheque udd.data@unisante.ch
Citation requirements

GUSEVA CANU, I., MOL, S., BOBER, A., NOE,MTN. and MASSEREY, A. ReMeHealP: REsearcher MEntal health Promotion : Review of services protecting mental health in academia and researchers’ awareness on their availability and utility . Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Version 1.0 of the supplementary material (06/2024), provided by the Unisanté Research Data Repository. DOI : https://doi.org/10.16909/DATASET/50

Disclaimer and copyrights

Copyright

(c) 2024, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Study description in PDF

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