(in German)

In June 2017, the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) organized a two-day colloquium on the topic of return to work (RTW) and early detection of mental health problems. The aim was to discuss current research projects with both researchers and practitioners, and to exchange experiences on current reintegration practices in Germany. The focus was on systematic reviews of determinants of return to work among employees with common mental disorders and effective reintegration programmes, qualitative and quantitative longitudinal studies on the RTW process, and on projects that examined collaborations between employers and health care professionals to support people with mental health problems.

Both the systematic reviews and the primary studies presented in the proceedings show that workplace-related measures are a critical success factor in the reintegration process. It is important that the occupational reintegration is already considered by the therapist during the treatment.

Promising supportive programmes for the treatment and reintegration of people with mental disorders include medically-vocationally oriented rehabilitation, graded return to work, and continuous support of the employees in the RTW process.

In particular, the cooperation between health care professionals and companies in innovative care networks is suitable for achieving early treatment of those affected and ensuring professional support during the reintegration process.

Please download the complete report "Common mental disorders and return to work" (in German).