Psychosocial constraints, such as high psychological demands, low decision latitude, weak social support, and an effort-reward imbalance at work, contribute to the development of mental health problems, musculoskeletal disorders, and cardiovascular disease. These health problems are among the main causes of work absence due to illness.

The literature on mental health-related preventive interventions focusses mainly on those aimed at changing certain personal characteristics (such as workers’ lifestyles) rather than organizational characteristics (such as working conditions or the organization of work).

This new study published by the IRSST: 

• documents the existing approaches to preventing mental health problems in the workplace;
• provides managers with psychosocial management tools (e.g., guides, examples of best practices) that will support the current health intervention in their organization; and
• discovers which factors facilitate or hinder the organizational interventions designed to prevent mental health problems, and the adoption of management practices that foster good mental health.