Abstract
We investigated the effects of an occupational mental health program, which was introduced into Company A since April 2002, on the following: 1) sick leave duration, 2) restoration and 3) contract retirement rates. This occupational mental health program included primary prevention by mental health seminars, early detection of mental health problem by an occupational counselor, referral to mental health facilities, and a reinstatement support program recommended by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. This new program is called Program A. And sick leave duration, restoration and contract retirement rates were compared between before and after the Program A was introduced. As a result, the sick leave duration according to mental health problems for each person was 519.2 ± 267.8 days before, and 307.6 ± 249.8 days after the introduction of Program A, which produced a significant difference (p<0.01, paired t-test). There was also increase in restoration rates from 34% (before Program A) to 38% (after Program A). Furthermore, there was decrease in contract retirement rate from 41% to 28% (after Program A).
