An Analysis of University Mental Health Initiatives Aimed at Academic Workers

Although there is a high prevalence of mental ill-health among university faculty, we know little about how universities have responded to growing concerns about faculty mental health. In this paper, we examine typical mental health interventions implemented in universities. We conducted semistructured, qualitative interviews with 34 academic workers and 20 nonacademic workers and administrators employed at Canadian universities. We identify three main features of university interventions and document their impact on the work and health of academic workers. First, interventions tend to take a “wellness” approach, focusing on individual solutions. Second, interventions tend to rely on generic content from corporate and nonprofit organizations to manage faculty mental health. Third, despite messaging that encourages help-seeking, faculty experience pressure to maintain productivity while ill. Drawing on insights from the literature on neoliberal managerialism and the gendered organization of the university, we show how the focus on the generic individual obfuscates the health consequences of rising expectations, high work demands, and the gendered organization of university labor. Meaningful interventions must address workload and work conditions, while considering the health consequences of the gendered organization of university work.