Ss04 Integration of a Psychological Health Prevention Programme in Business: From Theory to Real Commitment

Abstract Introduction The increasing incidence of work-related psychological disorders, acknowledged and compensated, is raising concerns within both professional environments and governmental bodies. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responders appear to be at higher risk of developing trauma-related mental health problems (Berger et al., 2012; Carleton et al., 2019). Concerned about its front-line employees and aware of the challenges they face on a daily basis, Urgences-santé created a workplace mental-health program in 2017, based on best practices such as peer support programs and Psychological First Aid. Methods This program includes multiple components that serve to quickly identify employees at risk for psychological distress and, if necessary, offer support as well as referral to appropriate and specialized resources. This program was assessed through a third-party empirical evaluation in combination with structured internal evaluation. Discussion The evidence suggests that the deployment of psychological first aid by peer helpers was a beneficial strategy for EMS responder. Perceived impacts on peer helpers and recipients, in addition to other factors, were associated with strong program adherence (Tessier et al., 2021). We also observed that, following a few years of implementation, the severity of absences linked to PTSD was reduced by 15%. Conclusion Based on these results, the integration of a psychological health prevention program in business works in practice. A real commitment from organisations and workers can have significant positive impacts on organizational performance, and workers well-being and satisfaction.