Managing work-related mental health conditions in family medicine

• Published in: Canadian Medical Association journal (CMAJ) Vol. 191; no. 12; pp. E323 - E324
• Main Author: Kidd, Michael, AM MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Joule Inc 25-03-2019; CMA Impact, Inc
• Subjects: Absenteeism (Labor); Analysis; Canada; Collaboration; Disability insurance; Employee turnover; Evidence-based medicine; Family medicine; Family physicians; Family Practice; General practitioners; Health aspects; Health care industry; Humans; Internal Medicine; Job stress; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - therapy; Mental health; Mental health care; Mentally ill persons; Occupational Diseases - diagnosis; Occupational Diseases - psychology; Occupational Diseases - therapy; Patients; Physicians; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Production management; Psychological aspects; Stress; Workers; Workers compensation; Canada; Melbourne Victoria Australia; Australia; Adelaide South Australia Australia
• ISSN: 0820-3946; 1488-2329
• DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.190284

In the year 2016, the Mental Health Commission of Canada estimated that in any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada has a mental health problem or illness. Many will face mental health conditions during their working years, and work-related mental health conditions are estimated to be responsible for about 30% of disability claims, costing the Canadian economy more than $6 billion each year in lost productivity, from absenteeism, presenteeism and staff turnover. Patients whose mental illness is work-related may submit a worker's compensation claim. In Canada, family physicians are the health care providers most commonly seen for mental health conditions. Participation in safe work conditions is a key component for many people in achieving good overall health. With increased awareness and the growing burden of mental health conditions in our community, family physicians need to be equipped with evidence-based recommendations, tools and resources to support decision-making at the point of care.