## Detailed Information 2 Mental Health Measures at Workplaces

## I System Framework

### 1. Measures of industrial safety and health laws and ordinances

(1) Conducting mental health checkups by doctors at the time of interview guidance for those working long hours

(2) Conducting investigation and discussion at health committees, etc. for establishing mental health measures

### 2. Measures to be taken by business operators

(1) Formulation of the “Guidelines for Maintaining and Improving Workers’ Mental Health” (made public in March 2006)

The Guidelines provide the following matters as general implementation methods of mental health care that business operators should take.

1. Investigation and discussion at health committees, etc.

2. Formulation of mental health promotion plans

3. Promotion of four types of mental health care

(1) Self-care

(2) Care by management supervisors

(3) Care by industrial health staffs, etc. placed at offices

(4) Care by external resources

4. Concrete procedures of mental health are

(1) Educational training and information provision

(2) Identification and improvement of working environment, etc.

(3) Detecting and responding to mental health disorders

(4) Support for returning to work

5. Consideration to personal information protection

6. Matters requiring attention for efforts made in small-scale offices

* External resources: refers to institutions or experts that provide support for mental health care outside offices

(2) Formulation of “Prevention of and Countermeasures against Suicide at Workplaces” (Suicide Prevention Manual) (revised in September 2008)

(3) Formulation of “Support Guide for Workers Absent from Work due to Mental Health Problems to Return to Workplaces” (revised in March 2009)

### 3. Guidance by Prefectural Labour Bureaus and Labour Standards Inspection Offices

Business operators are provided with guidance on measures that conform to the Guidelines for offices.

## I I The government support for promoting mental health measures at workplaces

### 1. Comprehensive support

Establishment and operation of Mental Health Measures Support Centers, etc.

Implementation of comprehensive support for efforts being made by business operators in mental health measures, and from prevention of mental health disorders, their early detection, and appropriate treatment, through to support for absent workers to return to their workplaces

[1] Responses to consultation requests from business operators

[2] Visit support at individual workplaces

[3] Support for the formulation of programs on returning to workplaces

[4] Education for managers/supervisors, etc.

### 2. Information provision

Establishment of a mental health portal site “Ears of the Heart” (October 2009; http://kokoro.mhlw.go.jp/)

Provision of comprehensive information on mental health measures at workplaces

### 3. Others

(1) Mental health training for industrial health staff members, etc. at occupational health promotion centers

(2) Provision of support for small-scale offices with insufficient industrial health care systems at regional industrial health centers located nationwide

(3) Establishment of “telephone consultations on the mental health of workers” at 19 Rosai (Workers' Accident Compensation) Hospitals nationwide