Leading the way to mental health: the role of mental health-specific leadership and stigmatizing attitudes for intra- and interpersonal mental health outcomes

Purpose This study examines how mental health-specific leadership (MHSL) relates to employee mental health outcomes, including intrapersonal outcomes (burnout; work engagement) and interpersonal outcomes (team support; health-related extra-role performance), and the moderating role of stigmatizing attitudes toward mental health. Design/methodology/approach We surveyed 210 employees across 53 teams in a large public organization in the Netherlands and used multilevel path analyses to test our hypotheses. Findings At the individual level, MHSL was tentatively negatively associated with burnout, and positively associated with work engagement, team support and health-related extra-role performance. Stigmatizing attitudes moderated these relationships, tentatively weakening the MHSL–team support relationship and strengthening the MHSL–health-related extra-role performance relationship. At the team level, MHSL showed no significant associations. Practical implications Organizations may benefit from leadership development programs that promote mental health behaviors and foster supportive workplaces, particularly when combined with anti-stigma initiatives that reduce the impact of stigmatizing attitudes. Originality/value This study advances the concept of MHSL by linking it to intra- and interpersonal mental health outcomes, thereby extending health leadership frameworks. It provides novel insights into specific leadership behaviors that support employee mental health.