MHealthy convened the Stress Management Task Force in response to employee wellness assessment data indicating stress as one of the most prevalent health risk factors in the U-M employee population. The group was charged with recommending and overseeing the implementation of appropriate MHealthy stress management activities for the U-M community in order to positively impact health and well-being, and foster a psychologically healthy workplace.
Based on a thorough review and discussion of U-M data, evidence-based research literature, and benchmarking results, and informed by the collective expertise and experience of task force members, the MHealthy Stress Management Task Force adopted a comprehensive stress prevention and management approach, making recommendations across three levels.
- Individual Level:Focus on training and development of individual employees with the goal of improving skills, values, and behaviors.
- Group Level: Focus on social connections with the goal of improving how employees relate to each other.
- Organizational Level: Focus on overall work environment with the goal of improving workplace culture.
The recommendations are further organized across seven guiding principles for a psychologically healthy workplace.
- Stress Management Training for Individuals: The University commits to a comprehensive stress management program to develop and sustain skills that help individuals cope with stress.
- Civility: The University commits to a respectful and civil workplace marked by trust and accountability.
- Leadership: The University attracts, hires, and develops leaders who foster a psychologically healthy work environment.
- Participatory Workforce: The University commits to an engaged and participatory workforce that has a say in decisions affecting work.
- Realistic Workload: The University commits to a realistic workload that allows a sustainable and thriving workforce.
- Collaboration: The University commits to friendship and collaboration in the workplace.
- Showcase Exemplars: The University commits to identify, showcase, and learn from exemplary work units that demonstrate healthy stress management behaviors.