The Significance and Applicability of Physical Therapy in Occupational Mental Health

Abstract

Mental health problems experienced by workers, such as depression and anxiety, have been increasing each year. Such problems lead to losses for both workers and employers due to reduced productivity and absences from work; they also have a detrimental effect on society and the economy as a whole. Because many small- to medium-sized workplaces lack access to mental health professionals, implementing workplace mental health measures remains challenging .On the other hand, evidence clearly indicates that physical activity interventions by qualified physical therapists could improve patient mental health via neurophysiological, psychological, and social mechanisms, and have significant potential applicability to mental health issues at the workplace. This reviews the current status of workplace mental health measures in Japan, categorizes the roles that physical therapy may play, from primary to tertiary preventions, and discusses their significance and potential applicability.