Survey:
A questionnaire was designed, piloted, revised, and circulated electronically to the 172 conference attendees, 18 months following the conference. The survey was conducted for one month, with 88 respondents, yielding a response rate of 51%.
We set out to assess attitudinal changes to measure whether the conference impacted MRT practice and asked baseline questions about mental health and wellness, collegiality, and perceptions around the use or need for mental health leave.
We measured the change in the consideration for one’s own mental health and wellness, that of their colleagues, and their practice following the learning of the conference.
Results:
After attending the conference, the number of people who report regularly considering the mental health of their colleagues, increased by 17%.
The number of respondents reporting being somewhat to very familiar with mental health concepts increased by 15%.
Additionally, 95% of respondents reported that designated mental health and wellness days were important for best work performance.
Only 13.9% of respondents reported satisfaction with the current availability of support to take them.
This coincides with national data indicating 56.4% of MRTs have no, or are unsure of, stress management supports at work.
90% of respondents stated that they have reported working in the past, in spite of needing to take a mental health day.
37% of respondents recall having reported an unrelated physical symptom to work when requiring a mental health day as a means of justification.