The American Psychological Association Recognizes Ten Companies' Commitment to Employee Health and Well-Being

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is implementing a Whole Health System (WHS) of care that empowers and equips Veterans to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest, and increasingly leaders recognize the need and value in implementing a similar approach to support the health and well-being of employees. The purpose of this paper is to do the following: 1) provide an overview of the WHS of care in VHA and applicability in addressing employee resiliency; 2) provide a brief history of employee well-being efforts in VHA to date; 3) share new priorities from VHA leadership as they relate to Employee Whole Health strategy and implementation; and 4) provide a summary of the impacts of WHS of care delivery on employees. The WHS of care utilizes all therapeutic, evidence-based approaches to support self-care goals and personal health planning. Extending these approaches to employees builds upon 10 years of foundational work supporting employee health and well-being in VHA. In 2017, one facility in each of the 18 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) in VHA was selected to participate in piloting the WHS of care with subsequent evaluation by VA’s Center for Evaluating Patient-Centered Care (EPCC). Early outcomes, from an employee perspective, suggest involvement in the delivery of the WHS of care and personal use of the whole health approach have a meaningful impact on the well-being of employees and how they experience the workplace. During the COVID-19 pandemic, VHA has continued to support employees through virtual resources to support well-being and resiliency. VHA's shift to this patient-centered model is supporting not only Veteran care but also employee health and well-being at a time when increased support is needed.

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Ana Maria Rossi, James A. Meurs, Pamela L. Perrewé , eds. 2014. Improving Employee Health and Well-Being. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc. $39.00. pp. 215. Paperback. ISBN: 978-1-62396-517-4. .

World Medical & Health Policy ◽

10.1002/wmh3.129 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 95-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

William P. Schaefer

Keyword(s):

Information Age ◽

Well Being ◽

Employee Health ◽

Health And Well Being

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Workplace interventions that aim to improve employee health and well-being in male-dominated industries: a systematic review

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2020-107314 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. oemed-2020-107314

Author(s):

Paige M Hulls ◽

Rebecca C Richmond ◽

Richard M Martin ◽

Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde ◽

Frank de Vocht

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Mode Of Delivery ◽

Well Being ◽

Employee Health ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Workplace Health ◽

Workplace Interventions ◽

Published Evidence ◽

Male Dominated ◽

Health And Well Being

The published evidence on whether workplace health and well-being interventions are as effective in male-dominated industries compared with mixed-gender environments has not been synthesised. We performed a systematic review of workplace interventions aimed at improving employee health and well-being in male-dominated industries. We searched Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Database and Web of Science for articles describing workplace interventions in male-dominated industries that address employee health and well-being. The primary outcome was to determine the effectiveness of the intervention and the process evaluation (intervention delivery and adherence). To assess the quality of evidence, Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Tool was used. Due to the heterogeneity of reported outcomes, meta-analysis was performed for only some outcomes and a narrative synthesis with albatross plots was presented. After full-text screening, 35 studies met the eligibility criteria. Thirty-two studies delivered the intervention face-to-face, while two were delivered via internet and one using postal mail. Intervention adherence ranged from 50% to 97%, dependent on mode of delivery and industry. 17 studies were considered low risk of bias. Albatross plots indicated some evidence of positive associations, particularly for interventions focusing on musculoskeletal disorders. There was little evidence of intervention effect on body mass index and systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Limited to moderate evidence of beneficial effects was found for workplace health and well-being interventions conducted within male-dominated industries. Such interventions in the workplace can be effective, despite a different culture in male-dominated compared with mixed industries, but are dependent on delivery, industry and outcome. CRD42019161283.

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Positive Psychology: A Personal History

Annual Review of Clinical Psychology ◽

10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050718-095653 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 1-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Martin E.P. Seligman

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Positive Psychology ◽

American Psychological Association ◽

Well Being ◽

Personal History ◽

Positive Education ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

American Psychological ◽

Politics And Religion

As president of the American Psychological Association in 1998, I organized researchers and practitioners to work on building well-being, not just on the traditional task of reducing ill-being. Substantial research then found that well-being causes many external benefits, including better physical and mental health. Among the applications of Positive Psychology are national psychological accounts of well-being, Positive Psychotherapy, the classification of strengths and virtues, Comprehensive Soldier Fitness, and Positive Education. Positive Psychology has spread beyond psychology into neuroscience, health, psychiatry, theology, and even to the humanities. Positive Psychology has many critics, and I comment on the strongest criticisms. I conclude with the hope that the building of well-being will become a cornerstone of morality, politics, and religion.

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