Promoting Employees' Mental Health in the Post-COVID New Normal: Using a Peer Support Model

ABSTRACT

It is evident that stress and mental health conditions can negatively affect employees' job performance and productivity, work engagement, communication, physical capability, and daily functioning. Employer organizations have implemented several innovative methods to improve in-person and virtual workplace mental health promotion programs. In 2019, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a guideline on Mental Health in the Workplace. However, there is limited research on using a peer support model in organizations as an alternative and complementary approach to promote employee psychological well-being. The history and principles of a peer support model will be introduced and implied as an effective resource to employees. An overview of the evidence-based practice in a peer support program in mental health promotion will be provided. Finally, ethical principles, legal issues, and best practices of the peer support program will be presented, especially in a virtual format and in a social media platform. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.