Trends of occupational mental health in Japan

Abstract

Recently, promoting measures for workers' mental health has been one of the most important and pressing issues in occupational health. In this paper, I indicate the direction which the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare decided on and discuss the roles of in-plant occupational health staff. In-plant occupational health staff should attach great importance to "caseness" in their mental health activities. I express my personal opinion about the division of roles and coordination between in-plant occupational health staff and outside medical specialists. I also refer to the necessity of improvements in the workplace environment.