EXPLORING THE PREFERABLE MENTALLY HEALTHY WORK ENVIRONMENT AMONG COLLEGE TEACHERS

Mr. Ramanathan and Dr. Nithyanandan

Abstract

As part of the World Mental Health Day observation on October 10, the Psychology Department at Periyar University conducted a survey on Mental Health in the Workplace, the theme proposed by World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH), USA for the World Mental Health Day 2017. The present study is the report of the one question survey among the assistant professors who teach in the colleges affiliated to Periyar University Jurisdiction. The study aims to explore the attitude towards mentally healthy workplace among faculty members. In order to raise awareness in social media the WFMH requested the mental health professionals across the globe to enquire into the question “For me mentally healthy workplace is ____?”. The pamphlet containing this question was circulated among 115 assistant professors in the colleges affiliated to Periyar University. The data were content analysed in an exploratory manner. The one question survey yielded 105 different themes and the total frequency was 152 from 115 people. The frequency analysis revealed that for these faculty members peaceful environment topped the most preferable mentally healthy workplace following an environment that gives freedom and motivation. The sample consisted of assistant professors from Colleges affiliated to Periyar University and generally they differ based on the organizational climate of their campuses. In the main paper strategies will be discussed to promote peaceful environment, freedom and staff motivation in the college campuses.
Keywords: WFMH, Mental Health, Workplace and Teacher.