How Managers Find Out About Common Mental Disorders Among Their Employees.

Abstract

To explore how managers find out about common mental disorders (CMDs) among employees and associations with managers' work- and knowledge-related characteristics and attitude to CMDs. Data from an online survey in 2017 with Swedish managers (n = 1810) were used. Different ways managers find out about CMDs were measured, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted for associations with manager characteristics. Few managers found out about CMDs themselves; another source was more common, for example, employees' self-disclosure. Managers' overseeing fewer subordinates and those with a negative attitude to depression were more likely to find out about CMDs themselves. The significance of mental health training and education could not be established. Managers' awareness about employees' CMDs mainly came about through employees' self-disclosure. Managers' attitudes and work conditions were related to the way of finding out.