Across Europe, stress and burnout are growing challenges, and despite existing legal frameworks, there is a notable gap between well-being policies and their practical implementation. This fosters a "box-ticking" culture where compliance is prioritised over genuine commitment. This multi-country qualitative study, led by the European Federation of Psychologists' Associations (EFPA), explores best practices, implementation challenges, the role of policies, and the intersection with Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives through interviews with occupational psychology practitioners in eight European countries.
The findings indicate that a successful approach must be proactive and systemic, not reactive. Key elements include psychosocial risk assessment, leadership training, mental health literacy, and the integration of EDI initiatives, which are intrinsically linked to improved mental health outcomes. However, implementation faces systemic challenges, such as the underutilisation and misunderstanding of the occupational psychologist's role, a lack of integration among key stakeholders, and sectoral disparities, with public organisations and small enterprises lagging behind larger corporations.
The conclusions highlight the need for a cultural shift. It is recommended to elevate the professional status of occupational psychologists, update legislative frameworks to focus more on well-being promotion rather than just risk prevention, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure holistic and sustainable initiatives.