Abstract

This document is the result of an epidemiological study in which the researchers evaluated a participatory intervention (employers, unions and management) carried out on a hospital’s caregiving personnel; the purpose of the intervention was to prevent work-related mental health problems. It targeted psychosocial work environment constraints recognized as pathogenic: high psychological demand, low decision latitude and poor social support, imbalance between the effort invested and the recognition received. The preliminary results offer promise of a reduction in absenteeism due to a decrease in mental health problems, a reduction in personnel turnover as well as in costs of health care and in the compensation paid to the victims of occupational injuries associated with this type of problem, while at the same time, an increase in efficiency and productivity. The authors believe that the proposed intervention contributes significantly to the preservation of occupational mental health. They produced this non-technical tool to widen the intervention’s dissemination; the tool makes it easier to understand the intervention and implementation as well as its adoption by other work environments.