Adaptation and implementation of an employee mental health disclosure decision aid tool in a real-world sample

Abstract

Abstract Making decisions about disclosing mental health conditions in the workplace is complicated. A previous randomized controlled trial showed that web-based decision aid tool (READY?) helped employees make decisions and improved mental health. We aimed to evaluate the implementation of this tool and its outcomes when scaled up by a governmental health and safety agency. We used website analytics and event data of those using the decision aid tool, and self-report stage of decision-making, distress, engagement, and usability data from consenting users of READY? over the first year of it being made publicly available. Over the year 2021, 100 adults opted in to be involved in the research evaluation of the program. This study replicated the previous Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) that showed at post-intervention; a later stage of decision-making (t1,99 = 6.308, P < .001) with a large effect size (d = 0.87), and psychological distress was significantly reduced (t1,99 = 3.088, P < .001) with a moderate effect size (d = 0.41). READY? facilitated disclosure with 36.3% deciding to disclose after use. Disclosure was associated with a greater reduction in mental ill-health symptoms than non-disclosure [F(2,31) = 18.67, P < .001] with a moderate effect size (d = 0.64). Engagement, usage, and attrition rates were favourable when compared with other digital mental health approaches in community samples. This study shows that READY? is successfully implemented in a real-world sample. Aligning with the RCT results, for many, disclosure can be positive, research should continue to focus on developing organization-wide tools to create better supported and safe workplaces that promote disclosure.