Resilience at work

Josh Cameron, Angela Hart, Gaynor Sadlo

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding with ISSN or ISBNConference contribution with ISSN or ISBNpeer-review

Abstract

An ecological conceptualisation of resilience was one of the major orientating concepts for this doctoral research which used critical realist methodology to gain explanatory insight into the job retention challenges faced by employees recovering from mental health problems. Methods involved a literature review of qualitative job retention research, a comparative case study approach, and service user collaboration. One case study comprised seven employed people who were using acute mental health services. The second comparative case study comprised fourteen users of a community-based job retention project. Work mattered to people during recovery because of feelings of guilt about not working, and because some feared that work had, or could, exacerbate their mental health problems. Such fears co-existed with a strong sense that work was an important part of people's lives in terms of finance, social capital, occupational capital and personal capital. These assets were under threat, but they also had the potential to be deployed to support a resilient recovery. Participants were on complex and uncertain return-to-work journeys, facing a combination of internal and external obstacles. Barriers arose from the direct impacts of mental health problems, external and internalised stigma, job demands and the workplace environment - particularly relationships with colleagues and, above all, managers. Findings suggest that return-to-work trajectories are likely to be more successful and sustainable when such challenges are addressed. Broader implications were that occupational and ecological resilience perspectives can be integrated to help understand the challenges people with mental health problems encounter when seeking to retain employment.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Second World Congress on Resilience: from Person to Society
Place of PublicationBologna, Italy
PublisherMedimond
Pages961-966
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9788875876975
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2014
EventThe Second World Congress on Resilience: from Person to Society - Timisoara, Romania, 8-10 May 2014
Duration: 1 May 2014 → …

Conference

ConferenceThe Second World Congress on Resilience: from Person to Society
Period1/05/14 → …

Keywords

  • Resilience
  • employment
  • return to work
  • mental health
  • occupational science

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