Ruth E Marshall1, Josie Milligan-Saville1,2, Katherine Petrie1,2, Richard A Bryant2,3, Philip B Mitchell1,2, Samuel B Harvey4. 1. School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia. 2. Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Rd, Randwick, 2031, Australia. 3. School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia. 4. Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Rd, Randwick, 2031, Australia. s.harvey@unsw.edu.au.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mental health screening in the workplace aims to identify employees who are becoming symptomatic, in order to provide timely support and evidence-based interventions to those affected. Given the stigma associated with mental illness, accurate disclosure of mental health symptoms cannot be assumed. The present study sought to investigate factors associated with the accurate reporting of mental health symptoms amongst police officers. METHODS: A total of 90 serving police officers completed identical mental health screening surveys, one administered by the employer and the other anonymously by an independent organisation. Responses were then linked to compare differences in the number and severity of mental health symptoms reported on each questionnaire. RESULTS: Comparisons of matched self-report scores indicated that employees under-reported symptoms of mental health disorders when completing screening administered by their employer, with only 76.3% of symptoms declared. Under-reporting occurred regardless of gender and symptom type. Less senior staff (p = 0.05) and those with the most severe post-traumatic stress disorder and common mental disorder symptoms (p = 0.008) were significantly more likely to under-report symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Employer-administered mental health screening is not able to accurately capture all mental health symptoms amongst first responders. The fact that the severity of symptoms predicted the level of under-reporting means that simple changes to cut-off values cannot correct this problem.
BACKGROUND: Mental health screening in the workplace aims to identify employees who are becoming symptomatic, in order to provide timely support and evidence-based interventions to those affected. Given the stigma associated with mental illness, accurate disclosure of mental health symptoms cannot be assumed. The present study sought to investigate factors associated with the accurate reporting of mental health symptoms amongst police officers. METHODS: A total of 90 serving police officers completed identical mental health screening surveys, one administered by the employer and the other anonymously by an independent organisation. Responses were then linked to compare differences in the number and severity of mental health symptoms reported on each questionnaire. RESULTS: Comparisons of matched self-report scores indicated that employees under-reported symptoms of mental health disorders when completing screening administered by their employer, with only 76.3% of symptoms declared. Under-reporting occurred regardless of gender and symptom type. Less senior staff (p = 0.05) and those with the most severe post-traumatic stress disorder and common mental disorder symptoms (p = 0.008) were significantly more likely to under-report symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Employer-administered mental health screening is not able to accurately capture all mental health symptoms amongst first responders. The fact that the severity of symptoms predicted the level of under-reporting means that simple changes to cut-off values cannot correct this problem.
Authors: Ruth E Marshall; Josie S Milligan-Saville; Philip B Mitchell; Richard A Bryant; Samuel B Harvey Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2017-03-30 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Katherine Petrie; Josie Milligan-Saville; Aimée Gayed; Mark Deady; Andrea Phelps; Lisa Dell; David Forbes; Richard A Bryant; Rafael A Calvo; Nicholas Glozier; Samuel B Harvey Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2018-06-05 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Roberto J Rona; Howard Burdett; Mizanur Khondoker; Melanie Chesnokov; Kevin Green; David Pernet; Norman Jones; Neil Greenberg; Simon Wessely; Nicola T Fear Journal: Lancet Date: 2017-02-17 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Christopher H Warner; George N Appenzeller; Thomas Grieger; Slava Belenkiy; Jill Breitbach; Jessica Parker; Carolynn M Warner; Charles Hoge Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2011-10
Authors: Katherine Petrie; Kelly Stanton; Aneesha Gill; Jennifer Simmons; Samuel B Harvey Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2022-04-06 Impact factor: 3.630