MANY public servants do not think their managers and employers consider their mental health to be of great importance.

This was revealed by a survey of 1,207 public service workers done by the Personnel Office of the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO).

The survey's findings were discussed at the launch of the assessment phase of the review of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in the public service. It was held at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, on Friday morning.

In January, the Office of the CPO announced it would be reviewing the programme.

Approved by Cabinet in 2004, the EAP offers free assistance to employees in the following areas: health, marital, family, financial, alcohol, drug, legal, emotional, stress 'or other personal issues that may affect job performance.'

Consultant Keagon Bharath, who presented the findings, said the survey was virtually distributed from mid-May to the end of May 2023.

A total of 79.1 per cent of respondents were women, 18.9 per cent were men, and two per cent identified as other.

It included workers from age 18 up to 'over 65.'

On the topic of psychological safety, which Bharath explained includes policies, practices and procedures for workers' psychological safety, he said it is an area of concern.

A total of 52.8 per cent of the respondents believe that the psychological well-being of staff is not prioritised by their employers, while 60.7 per cent felt that senior management did not consider the psychological health of employees to be of great importance.

Just under 50 per cent of employees, he said, felt their contributions to resolving those concerns were taken into consideration by senior management, while 58.4 per cent felt no participation and consultation took place with respect to psychological health and safety.

He then said respondents took a neutral position when it came to trusting their supervisors.

However, he noted that 30.5 per cent of employees said before the covid19 pandemic, mental health was seen as important, but during the pandemic, 32 per cent said it was not important at all.

As for post-pandemic, 36 per cent said mental health was being taken as 'extremely important.'

Public Administration Minister Allyson West, as well as an official from the Energy Ministry, questioned if the sample size was sufficient.

Bharath said there were time constraints and they went on the basis of trying to get as many responses as possible during that time.

'Generally speaking, these types of surveys, the approach was the more people we can get, the better than to try to take a rigorous, scientific approach...' he said.

West then asked what was the intended/target sample size, to which Bharath said there was not any.

West said when she asked the CPO's office if there had been an increase in the number of people who use EAP services post-pandemic, given that more people felt their mental health was being considered important, she was told there was 'no real change in the numbers.'

On the topic of work/family life balance,