Publication Highlights

Workplaces have a substantial impact on workers' mental health and bear a large proportion of the social and economic burden associated with mental illness. The enormous cost of mental health disorders creates a social and economic imperative to reduce the prevalence of mental health problems within the working population. Research suggests that the personal and financial costs could be reduced if a greater proportion of workers who need treatment received it. In particular, despite the high prevalence rates of anxiety and mood disorders in male-dominated industries, workers in these industries may be less likely to seek treatment and assistance due to their gender. Despite this little research has been undertaken to identify effective strategies for male-dominated workplaces. This systematic review was undertaken to examine the current evidence base for workplace interventions addressing mental health problems in male-dominated industries.

The systematic review found a limited body of evidence supporting effective interventions for mental health problems in male-dominated industries. However, the evidence does suggest that mental health interventions in male-dominated industries are logistically feasible and can have some positive impact on the mental health of workers. The available evidence indicates that effective strategies to address anxiety and depression among workers in male-dominated industries include:

1. distributing information to workers about mental health issues
2. providing additional social support
3. offering access to treatment and advice for workers
4. education for managers about mental health in the workplace
5. specifically targeting intervention at groups at high risk for absenteeism
6. addressing excessive workloads and providing relief periods from heavy workloads.