2016 Volume 9 Issue 1 Pages 9-15
The purpose of the present study was to clarify the current status of psychiatric services and return to work programs within occupational mental health services provided by psychiatric hospitals and clinics in Osaka prefecture. The study focused on whether employment of occupational health physicians and psychological specialists was associated with providing of occupational mental health services. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 470 psychiatric hospitals and clinics in Osaka prefecture in 2013. A total of 215 organizations responded (response rate=45.7%). In the psychiatric organizations studied, 46.5% of clinical psychologists and 34.0% of psychiatric social workers who were employed as psychological specialists. Psychiatric medical organization reporting the employment of occupational health physicians was 48.4%. Organizations providing return to work programs was 19.5%; of those that did not provide such programs, 17.7% reported that they would do so in the future. The employment of occupational health physicians increased the percentages of providing of return to work programs. The employment of psychological specialists increased the percentages of psychological counseling services and return to work programs. To provisions of counselling and return to work programs, the employment of occupational health physicians and psychological specialists may be important factors.
