Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
In this project, we are going to investigate whether improved leadership skills and mental health literacy leads to an improvement in psychosocial working conditions. The program (intervention) has been tailored to meet the needs of police officers working at one of the Victoria Police stations (Melbourne, Australia). A leadership development programme will be provided for officers in leadership positions (for example, Senior Sergeants and Sergeants). Skills vital for improving mental wellbeing, including practical skills (for example, to cope with workload), awareness of mental illness and how best to support others experiencing mental illness will be extended to all officers taking part in the intervention. The success of the program will be assessed using a number of methods that measure work-related stress, absences and awareness of mental health.
Who can participate?
Victoria Police members (Melbourne, Australia)
What does the study involve?
A total of 24 police stations have enrolled in the study. Each station has a group of 20 people participating in the study. These participants are randomly allocated (as a cluster) to one of two groups. In group 1 (the intervention group) the participants take part in the leadership development and skills development programmes as appropriate for 6 months. Group 2 (the control group) carry on as usual.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at registration
Where is the study run from?
Deakin University, Melbourne (Australia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2014 to December 2016
Who is funding the study?
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (Australia)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Anthony LaMontagne
Tony.lamontagne@deakin.edu.au
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof Anthony LaMontagne
ORCID ID
Contact details
221 Burwood Hwy
Burwood
Melbourne
3125
Australia
+61 (0) 3 9244 6802
Tony.lamontagne@deakin.edu.au
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Integrated workplace mental health promotion for the prevention and management of mental Illness in the workplace: a cluster randomised controlled trial
Acronym
Study hypothesis
We hypothesise that activities to improve leadership behaviours and participation in mental health literacy will result an improvement in psychosocial working conditions (e.g., supervisory social support at work, job control) and mental health literacy (e.g., knowledge, confidence in assisting someone who may have a mental health problem), as primary outcomes and mental health and work performance (e.g., unplanned absence) as secondary outcomes.
Ethics approval
1. The Human Research Ethics committee at the University of Melbourne; 11/10/2013; ref. 1340429
2. Deakin University Human Research Ethics; 07/072014; ref. 2014-132
Study design
Cluster randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Cluster randomised trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Prevention
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Mental health
Intervention
12 clusters of at least 20 participants randomly allocated to receive the intervention for 6 months, and the same number randomly allocated to a non-intervention control group.
1. We will design tailored intervention activities drawing on earlier development projects conducted in Victoria Police, evidence based guidance on job stress reduction, and mental health literacy interventions. Interventions will include activities to increase positive workplace protective factors and decrease negative workplace stressors (e.g., through providing supportive management training for desk sergeants to improve supervisor support). We will also conduct mental health promotion activities using a range of existing resources including printed and on-line materials. Wherever possible, intervention activities will integrate primary and secondary prevention and focus on job stress and mental health literacy.
2. Control group will receive treatment as usual.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Working conditions (e.g., supervisory social support at work, job control, job demands) and mental health literacy including mental health knowledge, stigma against mental illness and disclosure norms, confidence and skills in assisting someone who may have a mental health problem. Working conditions will be assessed using standardised scales such as the COP-SOQ and other scales routinely used in job stress research. Mental health literacy assessment will use the items developed for mental health first aid.
Secondary outcome measures
1. World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ)
2. The Kessler-6 instrument
3. As well as organisation recorded unplanned absence data (at the station cluster level)
Overall trial start date
01/08/2014
Overall trial end date
30/12/2016
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
The study is open to all Victoria Police members in the stations enrolled in the trial who volunteer to participate.
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
24 police stations, with at least 20 participants in each station.
Participant exclusion criteria
Stations eligible for the trial will have a minimum of 40 members from the Eastern and North-West regions of Melbourne. There are no exclusion criteria for potential participants within eligible stations.
Recruitment start date
01/08/2014
Recruitment end date
30/12/2016
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Australia
Trial participating centre
221 Burwood Hwy
Melbourne
3125
Australia
Sponsor information
Organisation
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (Australia)
Sponsor details
Level 1
16 Marcus Clarke Street
Canberra
2601
Australia
-
nhmrc@nhmrc.gov.au
Sponsor type
Research council
Website
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Funder name
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (Australia); Partnership Projects Grant Application: 1055333
Alternative name(s)
NHMRC
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Federal/National Government
Location
Australia
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2016 protocol in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26920745