In the four participating organizations, an average of 43.42% of employees have a high level of psychological distress, compared to 20.09% in the Quebec population as a whole in 1998.

The main risk factors affecting mental health are: quantitative overload, little recognition from co-workers and superiors, poor relationship with the superior as well as low participation in decisions and poor intraining flow. The management and work practices associated with these factors were documented through interviews conducted with managers, employees and the main specialists in occupational health and safety of the organizations involved.

In each of the organizations studied, prevention in mental health is in an embryonic state. Although the form, content and frequency differ somewhat from one organization to the next, the four organizations carry out secondary prevention activities. They generally take the form of talks (organizational and individual risk factors) and training (stress and conflict management). On the whole, the organizations studied favour secondary rather than primary prevention activities. Primary prevention, which allows for the elimination or control at source of risk factors, is in an emerging phase and the desire of management teams and unions to take action at this level can be clearly seen. Tertiary prevention is most often managed by the occupational health department or the employee assistance program (EAP).

This study concludes that the increase in the rate of absenteeism, psychological distress, conflicts, harassment and violence in the workplace is an urgent challenge for society, organizations and individuals. The path of prevention is complex, but it must be followed wisely and resolutely so that one day, mental health can become a valid criterion of management decision in the same way as finance, technology and the market.

The dissemination of the main results, together with the participating organizations, is the first tangible effect of the study "Evaluation de la santé mentale au travail : une analyse des pratiques de gestion des ressources humaines." The aim of the process used is to promote awareness among organizations of the extent of work-related mental health problems, the appropriation of an intervention approach and the identification of preventive courses of action.