Work-related risk factors for health Training Module on the Right to Mental Health for the Security Sector • There are many risk factors for mental health that may be present in the working environment. Most risks relate to interactions between type of work, the organizational and managerial environment, the skills and competencies of employees, and the support available for the employees to carry out their work. • For example, a security officer may have the skills to complete tasks, but they may have too few resources to do what is required, or there may be unsupportive managerial or organizational practices. Risks to mental health include: • Inadequate health and safety policies • Poor communication and management practices • Limited participation in decision-making or low control over one’s area of work • Low levels of support for the employees • Inflexible working hours • Unclear tasks or organizational objectives Risks may be related to job content, such as unsuitable tasks for the person’s competencies or a high and unrelenting workload. Some jobs may carry a higher personal risk than others (e.g., first responders such as military, police officers, and humanitarian workers). This may have an impact on mental health and be a cause of symptoms of mental disorders or lead to harmful use of alcohol and illicit and psychoactive drugs. Risk may be increased in situations where there is a lack of team cohesion or social support. Bullying and psychological harassment (a.k.a. “mobbing”) are commonly reported causes of work-related stress by workers and present risks to health of workers. They are associated with both psychological and physical problems. Bullying can cause reduced productivity and increased staff turnover. It can also have a negative impact on family and social interactions. Creating a healthy workplace A healthy workplace can be described as one where workers and managers actively contribute to the working environment by promoting and protecting the health, safety, and well-being of all employees. Interventions and good practices that protect and promote mental health in the workplace include: 11