Feasibility and acceptability of the MENTUPP hub: an intervention to improve mental health and wellbeing in the workplace
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN14582090 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN14582090 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | MENTUPP GA No 848137 |
- Submission date
- 08/02/2021
- Registration date
- 04/05/2021
- Last edited
- 09/06/2025
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Depression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental health difficulties in the workplace in the EU, causing immense suffering and costing the global economy €1 trillion each year in lost productivity. Certain sectors, in particular construction, health and ICT, have an elevated risk of mental health difficulties, with those working in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) being particularly vulnerable. However, most SMEs have limited capacity to address mental health promotion and provide mental health interventions to staff. As SMEs comprise more than 90% of all EU businesses, there is a huge potential to influence population health.
This study aims to conduct an initial test of the MENTUPP programme in nine countries in Europe and Australia. MENTUPP aims to improve mental health and wellbeing in the workplace by developing, implementing and evaluating a comprehensive, multilevel intervention targeting both clinical (depressive, anxiety disorders) and non-clinical (stress, burnout, wellbeing, depressive symptoms) mental health issues, as well as combating the stigma of mental (ill-) health. Each intervention country will conduct the pilot implementation in one SME and in one of the three high-risk sectors. The main focus of the pilot is to examine the feasibility of implementing the intervention and recommend adaptations to address any infeasibilities identified in advance of the cluster Randomised Controlled Trial.
Who can participate?
Adults over 18 years, working in the area of health, ICT or construction.
What does the study involve?
Participants will have access to the MENTUPP Hub for a period of six months following participation in baseline measurement which involves a range of mental health indicators. The MENTUPP Hub is the online platform which presents the intervention materials. In total, there are approximately eight hours of content (reading materials, guided exercises, videos etc) to consume and participants have the choice of when and how many times they engage with the materials. Participants will be encouraged to bring the knowledge and skills they acquire from the intervention into their everyday, working life. Participants will complete post-intervention measurement and will be invited to participate in a focus group to understand their experience of engaging with the MENTUPP Hub.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Some participants may experience improvements in their mental health and well-being. Although there are no expected adverse outcomes for participants, they may experience some distress in response to the sensitive issues presented on the MENTUPP Hub. Participants will be encouraged to seek further help if this occurs and can contact the Research Officer in their region for information. Local helpline numbers in each country will also be provided.
Where is the study run from?
University College Cork (Ireland)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2021 to February 2022
Who is funding the study?
European Commission
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Ella Arensman, ella.arensman@ucc.ie
Dr Cliodhna O'Connor, cliodhna.oconnor@ucc.ie
Dr Paul Corcoran, pcorcoran@ucc.ie
Contact information
Scientific
4.28 Western Gateway Building
University College Cork
Cork
T12 XF62
Ireland
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-0376-1203 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +353214205551 |
| ella.arensman@ucc.ie |
Public
4.28 Western Gateway Building
University College Cork
Cork
T12 XF62
Ireland
| ORCID ID |
0000-0001-8105-119X |
|---|---|
| Phone | +353 214205551 |
| cliodhna.oconnor@ucc.ie |
Scientific
4.28 Western Gateway Building
University College Cork
Cork
T12 XF62
Ireland
| ORCID ID |
0000-0003-1201-7136 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +353 214205551 |
| pcorcoran@ucc.ie |
Study information
| Study design | Mixed-methods approach |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Non randomised study |
| Study setting(s) | Internet/virtual |
| Study type | Prevention |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet. |
| Scientific title | Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the MENTUPP hub: an intervention to improve mental health and wellbeing in the workplace |
| Study acronym | MENTUPP |
| Study objectives | The primary aim of this study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of the MENTUPP hub. Given that this is a pilot study, it will not be powered for formal hypothesis testing. |
| Ethics approval(s) | 1. Approved 11/12/2020, Griffith University Research Human Research Ethics Committee (GUHREC) (Office for Research, Bray Centre, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia; +61 737352069; research-ethics@griffith.edu.au), ref: 2020/842 2. Approved 09/12/2020, Ethical Review Board of The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) (Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki, Finland PL/PB/PO Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland; +358 295246000; eettinentoimikunta@thl.fi), ref: THL/5316/60.02.01/2020 3. Approved 18/12/2020, Egészségügyi Tudományos Tanács, Tudományos és Kutatásetikai Bizottság (ETT TUKEB) (7-8 Széchenyi István tér, Budapest, H-1051, Hungary; +3617951192; attilane.gombos@emmi.gov.hu), ref: IV/10156-2020/EKU 4. Approved 06/01/2021, Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Cork Teaching Hospitals (CREC) (Lancaster Hall, 6 Little Hanover Street, Cork, Ireland; +3530214901901; crec@ucc.ie), ref: ECM 4 (bb) 10/11/2020 & ECM 3 (oo) 12/01/2021 5. Approved 15/12/2020, Professional Ethics Commission of Hospital and University Clinical Service of Kosovo (Lagjia e spitalit, 10000, Prishtine, Kosovo; +381 38 500 600; aurora.bakalli@uni-pr.edu), ref: 2550 6. Approved 23/10/2020, Comité de Ética de la Investigación con medicamentos del Parc de Salut MAR (CEIm – Parcde Salut MAR, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; +34 933160677; ceic-psmar@imim.es), ref: 2019/8872/I 7. Approved 20/01/2021, The Medical Research Ethics Committee Utrecht (METC Utrecht) (Huispostnummer D01.343Kamernummer C01.314 Postbus 855003508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands; +31 887556376; info@metcutrecht.nl), ref: 20-689/D 8. Approved 15/02/2021, Ethikkommission des Fachbereichs Medizin der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main (Ethik-Kommission des Fachbereichs Medizin der Goethe-Universität c/o Universitätsklinikum Theodor-Stern-Kai 7 Haus 1, 2. OG, Zi. 207 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; +49 69 6301-3758; ethikkommission@kgu.de), ref: 20-1025 9. Approval pending, The Ethics Committee, Albania (Rr. Reshit Petrela No 27 Tirana, Albania; +355 42 6820293; gliorion@icc-al.org), ref: n/a |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Mental and behavioural disorders and wellbeing |
| Intervention | This study will evaluate the MENTUPP programme for improving mental health in the workplace. The MENTUPP programme will be delivered through the MENTUPP Hub, an online platform that will deliver psychoeducational and wellbeing materials. The MENTUPP Hub is designed to give tailored content to the construction sector, the healthcare sector and the ICT sector. Within each sector, the Hub provides general material on wellbeing as well as focused material and tools for employees and for leaders/managers. The pilot study will evaluate the MENTUPP programme and the relevant tailored materials in the construction, healthcare and ICT sectors. Nine countries will participate in the pilot studies and each country will assigned to recruit in a specific sector. The MENTUPP Hub will be delivered to participants via three intervention components. Intervention Component A focuses on non-clinical mental health including wellbeing, stress, burnout and depressive symptoms. Intervention Component A involves the presentation of materials that develop the participants’ general understanding of mental wellbeing, stress and burnout and a mental wellbeing toolkit. Leader-specific materials relate to organisational factors associated with wellbeing and employee-specific materials relate to peer support in the workplace. Intervention Component B is focused on depressive disorders and co-morbid anxiety and provides training on suicide prevention. Intervention Component C aims to target stigma in the workplace and is comprised of psychoeducational materials for all users including lay helpers and sufferers. The total duration of treatment is 6 months. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | 1. Feasibility will be measured throughout the study by tracking using the app: 1.1. Recruitment 1.2. Intervention uptake 1.3. Participant activity on the Hub 1.4. Retention 2. Acceptability will be measured via the app throughout the study: 2.1. Intervention adherence 2.2. Participant satisfaction and feedback and engagement (usability) |
| Secondary outcome measures | Standardised measures of wellbeing and mental health measured at baseline and post-intervention: 1. Mental wellbeing and quality of life: The World Health Organization – Five Wellbeing Index (WHO-5) 2. Depression and Anxiety: Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS; Kroenke et al., 2016) 3. Depression Stigma: Depression Stigma Scale (DSS; Griffiths et al, 2004) 4. Presenteeism in the workplace: Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6; Koopmann et al., 2002) 5. Productivity: Work Productivity and Activity Impairment – General Health V2.0 (WPAI-GH 2.0; Reilly et al., 2004) 6. Burnout: Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI; Demerouti et al., 2003) 7. Help-seeking behaviour: Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF; Fisher & Farina, 1995). Other secondary outcome measures related to the possible moderations of the MENTUPP effect by the cultural and organisational features of SMEs (OCAI, COPSOQ) 8. Organisational Culture: The Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI; Cameron & Quinn, 1999) 9. Psychosocial constructs at the workplace: Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ; National Research Centre for the Working Environment of Copenhagen, 2010) |
| Overall study start date | 01/02/2021 |
| Completion date | 28/02/2022 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 207 (N = 23 X 9 countries) |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Individuals employed within the selected SMEs 2. Aged 18 years and older 3. Working in the area of health, ICT or construction 4. Employees and/or managers within construction SMEs, including sub-contractors 5. Volunteers for social or human sciences research 6. Able to give informed consent 7. Individuals and groups who may be vulnerable in terms of mental and physical health difficulties |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Patients 2. Healthy volunteers for medical studies |
| Date of first enrolment | 22/03/2021 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/04/2021 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Albania
- Australia
- Finland
- Germany
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Kosovo
- Netherlands
- Spain
Study participating centres
University College Cork
Cork
T12 XF62
Ireland
Cork
T12 XF62
Ireland
Finland
1085
Hungary
3521 VS
Netherlands
1001
Albania
10000
Kosovo
08003
Spain
Australia
Australia
04109
Germany
Sponsor information
Charity
4.28 Western Gateway Building
University College Cork
Cork
T12 XF62
Ireland
| Phone | +353 214205551 |
|---|---|
| info@nsrf.ie | |
| Website | http://nsrf.ie/ |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/03rbjx398 |
University/education
4.28 Western Gateway Building
Cork
T12 XF62
Ireland
| Phone | +353 21 490 3000 |
|---|---|
| uccresearch@ucc.ie | |
| Website | http://www.ucc.ie/en/ |
|
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/03265fv13 |
Funders
Funder type
Government
Government organisation / National government
- Alternative name(s)
- European Union, Comisión Europea, Europäische Kommission, EU-Kommissionen, Euroopa Komisjoni, Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής, Европейската комисия, Evropské komise, Commission européenne, Choimisiúin Eorpaigh, Europskoj komisiji, Commissione europea, La Commissione europea, Eiropas Komisiju, Europos Komisijos, Európai Bizottságról, Europese Commissie, Komisja Europejska, Comissão Europeia, Comisia Europeană, Európskej komisii, Evropski komisiji, Euroopan komission, Europeiska kommissionen, EC, EU
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 28/02/2023 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in an open-access, peer-reviewed journal. |
| IPD sharing plan | The current data sharing plans for this study are unknown and will be available at a later date |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | 15/01/2022 | 21/03/2023 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | Evaluation of the long-term outcomes | 14/07/2023 | 14/08/2023 | Yes | No |
| Results article | Process evaluation | 14/12/2023 | 18/12/2023 | Yes | No |
| Results article | 20/08/2024 | 09/06/2025 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
09/06/2025: Publication reference added.
18/12/2023: Publication reference added.
14/08/2023: Publication reference added.
21/03/2023: Publication reference added.
24/02/2021: Trial’s existence confirmed by Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Cork Teaching Hospitals.
