The Mental Health Toolkit

Mental health is a central part of work ability and a success factor that helps workplaces reach their goals. The Mental Health Toolkit is a project focused on mental health support measures and methods, providing support for various sectors. The project also aims to promote readiness by workplaces and work communities to strengthen and support mental health as part of work ability.

The project disseminates the Mental Health Toolkit to workplaces and work communities by utilising research on the dissemination and implementation of innovations. The toolkit includes research-based tools and methods developed in the Mental Health at Work Programme (2021–2022), which have been assessed to be effective. 

Mental health can be promoted by putting working conditions in order and ensuring the fluency of daily work and interaction. The project offers support for putting the Mental Health Toolkit to use. The project develops existing tools further and develops new ones. The project also carries out free-of-charge training and coaching. 

Changes in society have an effect on work and mental health. This, in turn, challenges workplaces to renew their practices. One of the focus areas of the project is to support well-being, especially for the social welfare and health care sector and the art, culture and events sector, both of which were especially affected by COVID-19. Employee well-being and resilient work communities are a prerequisite for the recovery of these sectors. 

The project studies and assesses the success of implementing the mental health toolkit, the role of the tools as part of work ability management, the project’s own operating environment and changes in working conditions and well-being at work. Another simultaneous objective is to better understand the scope of work ability challenges related to mental health along with the cultural shift of taking mental health issues into consideration in work life.

A quantitative goal is to reach 600 workplaces and occupational health care units during the project.

Research brief for educational staff participating in the “Well-being at work in leadership training” study (in Finnish)

Research brief for students participating in the “Well-being at work in leadership training” study (in Finnish)

The project is carried out with a broad network of co-operative partners and stakeholders. Participants include Mieli ry, Kela and the Arts Promotion Centre Finland. 

The project is managed by a team of experts that includes representatives of the target sectors, labour market organizations and ministries.

The project is funded by the European Union’s one-time recovery tool (Next Generation EU) via the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

• Tools and methods for workplaces: Kirsi Ahola and Mari Haverinen
• Communications: Henna Laitio
• Supporting work ability management in the social welfare and health care sector: Mikael Sallinen
• Supporting mental well-being and work ability in the arts, culture and events sector: Heli Ansio
• Operational model for occupational health co-operation: Eija-Maria Gerlander
• Assessment of the characteristics of work: Pia Perttula
• New tools and the digitalisation development: Erika Gröhn 
• Work ability management and mental health contents in leadership training: Anu Järvensivu 
• Research and assessment: Pauliina Mattila-Holappa