St Mary's University, Twickenham (SMU)’s PROSPERH project to mark World Mental Health Day with presentation of research as part of the WISEWORK-C research cluster.
St Mary’s University is a partner in the EU-funded PROSPERH project, that looks to promote positive mental and physical health in changing work environments. The project conducts research targeting individual workers, peers, organisations, and employers with an evidence-backed health intervention tool designed to enable companies to improve the mental and physical health of their workforces.
The five-year PROSPERH Project is the continuation of a long-standing collaboration between 18 organisations committed to improving overall health and well-being. The research team includes SMU’s Dr Arlinda Cerga Pashoja as Principal Investigator, as well as SMU’s Dr Silvia Riva. Other members include those working in occupational health, public health and epidemiology, ergonomics, psychiatry, psychology, implementation science, social sciences and humanities, health economics, multi-country trials, and biostatistics. The project is led by the School of Public Health, University College Cork and National Suicide Research Foundation.
The aim of World Mental Health Day, which will take place on Thursday 10th October, is to raise awareness about the importance of mental health, to reduce stigma, and promote mental well-being. It serves as a reminder that mental health is an essential part of overall health, and encourages individuals and communities to take action in support of mental health.
In recent years, rapid changes have occurred in the workplace with new forms of work and work management arising. These changes can affect the mental and physical health of workers in ways, both positive and negative, that are not yet well understood. In 2022, 46% of respondents in a Flash Eurobarometer survey reported being under severe time pressure and work overload, and the costs for work-related depression alone in the European Union are over 600 billion euros per year. The PROSPERH project will deliver robust, comprehensive evidence on the impact of changing workplaces on workers’ mental and physical health.
To highlight this research and the workplace multi-level intervention being developed, PROSPERH will be presented at a webinar by Prof Arensman alongside four other research projects that collectively make up the WISEWORK-C research cluster. This will take place on Friday 11th October, 12pm. Register for the webinar here.
Speaking ahead of World Mental Health Day, SMU’s Dr Arlinda Cerga Pashoja said, “We are committed to addressing the critical challenges posed by rapidly changing work environments. By developing interventions like PROSPERH that foster mental and physical well-being, we aim to create healthier and more resilient workplaces that empower both individuals and organisations to thrive."
Dr Silvia Riva from SMU added, "Through tailored mental health initiatives, we strive to create a culture of openness and care, ensuring everyone has access to the resources they need to flourish.”