2025/09/30 by Corina Crisan, Pieter Van Dijk, Jennifer Oxley +1 · 1 voice
Health Professions · Psychology · #Mental Health and Patient Involvement #Employment and Welfare Studies #Mental Health Treatment and Access
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/1467-8500.70023
openalex publication_date 2025/09/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Abstract Reaching and engaging workers who are reluctant, unwilling, or unable to access relevant information and timely support through their workplace or mainstream avenues is a critical policy issue in Australia and worldwide. Cross‐sector alliances between community organisations, statutory bodies, and healthcare providers can expand the reach of initiatives that address worker mental health. However, there is limited understanding of how these alliances can be formed in a way that facilitates worker engagement while addressing the needs of each stakeholder group. We reflect on findings arising from interviews and focus groups with policymakers, service providers, and community leaders with experience and/or knowledge of community‐based mental health and propose a framework outlining the critical decision‐making components involved in a well‐coordinated service provision and support. We specify the most suited types of working relationships between cross‐sector agencies, with consideration to their goals and motivations to join resources and address work‐related mental health. Community organisations’ strengths and needs must be recognised and actively addressed in the co‐design and delivery of targeted initiatives that specifically address worker mental health in order to overcome the inevitable challenges that arise in inter‐agency alliances. Points for practitioners This study provides a greater understanding of the opportunity presented by community organisations to provide workers with complementary avenues to access resources within community settings that could address their mental health concerns before these escalate to unhealthy levels. The Community Co‐ownership of Work‐related Mental Health Framework considerations can guide policymakers and practitioners think strategically about how to identify and partner with suitable community organisations to better address the specific mental health needs of at‐risk worker cohorts, such as those long‐term injured and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Such alliances may present challenges to policymakers to balance multiple roles of being a partner, statutory body/regulator, and/or an essential administration entity; however, the anticipated benefits warrant these efforts.