Operation models that promote mental well-being also provide information to promote well-being at work

MDI has participated in several evaluations in respect of services that promote the well-being and vitality of municipalities and in the development of monitoring models. Evaluations are used to gather information on e.g. the effectiveness of projects related to working life and well-being.

Welfare and the promotion of ‘a good life’ in the municipalities have been our primary interests here. For example, the HYVIS project resulted in the production of a guidebook setting out the parameters for a good life in various locations and a set of indicators to support the well-being of municipalities. The house rules for decision makers drawn up in the project take into account likely future needs and various factors arising from the ongoing changes in working life and individual competences currently being experienced.

Assessments provide information on promoting well-being at work and supporting mental health in working life

The Covid-19 pandemic in particular has highlighted the ongoing decline in well-being at work across many fields including the public sector where staff are overburdened, especially in the education and health care and social care service sectors.

MDI has previously been involved in evaluating projects that looked at well-being at work: the goal of the Kunteko 2020 programme was to promote the productivity, efficiency and quality of working life and services in municipal work while the goal of the Työelämä 2020 project was to promote the implementation of the working life strategy completed in 2012.

MDI is also currently conducting an efficiency evaluation coordinated by NHG together with the University of Tampere and Vireä Mieli Oy. The goal of the evaluation is to provide information on how the introduction and awareness of tools and methods related to mental health support have increased during the period covered by this sub-project. The evaluation examines how workplace knowledge and knowledge of occupational health care have been strengthened in terms of the means and methods associated with mental health support.

The Mental Health Support Toolkit, launched in September 2021, aims to improve the capacity and means of workplaces and occupational health care to promote mental health and enable work communities to receive preventive support in respect of mental health issues. The aim is to change the culture that promotes mental health at work. Positive experiences have already been gained from this (YLE).

Appreciative encounter skills are promoted in a project aimed at the organisational world, but they can also be utilised both in everyday life and in support of work communities

Organisations also have an important role to play in promoting well-being and health. Cooperation between organisations and between municipalities and organisations contributes to reducing health inequalities between population groups. During the period 2021–2022, MDI will evaluate the Constructive Interaction in Support of Mental Health project (RVMT project), an education and development project funded by STEA. The project brings interaction and emotional skills to different actors in the mental health field in the organisational world.

The central goal of the project is to promote an appreciative encounter to which anyone can learn awareness and skills. Appreciative encounter is an important skill that can be utilised and implemented in work communities as well as in all other everyday interaction situations. Appreciative encounters can increase both one’s own well-being and the well-being of other people and communities.