ABSTRACT
In this chapter we argue that mental health promotion in the workplace has typically proceeded on the basis of the risk management model. In this model risk factors associated with mental health problems are identified and steps are taken to reduce or manage their impact. The concept of risk is complex and contains a number of distinct features. The crucial thing to note is that risk assessment involves an estimate of the likelihood that individuals are likely to be harmed by certain work conditions, experiences, or environments. This estimate strongly points to a value component in the sense that what benefits or harms individuals is a question of specific types of goods and their presence or absence. In addition, this definition suggests that there are a number of risk factors ranging from personal dispositions to environmental factors that should be canvassed in a comprehensive risk assessment. Some of these factors are causally related to mental health problems in a fundamental way while others may simply function as disinhibitors or triggers that precipitate the occurrence of problems.
