The Present Situation of Rework Programs in Japan for Individuals on Long-Term Leaves of Absence due to Mental Disorders: A Review

Objective: Recently there have been frequent reports regarding the mental health problems of workers and the necessity of providing support to individuals resuming work after long-term leaves of absence. However, there have been few reports of actual rework programs. Therefore, medical staff should understand the need for and begin to implement rework programs, and be prepared to discuss these programs with individuals returning from long-term leaves of absence due to mental disorders. Material and Methods: We mainly focused on and reviewed practical and concrete rework programs for individuals returning from long-term leaves of absence due to mental disorders in Japan, as reported by the Japanese Center Review Medicine (Ichushi), medical journals, and related journals, and we discuss herein the reported rework programs across various types of medical institutions and workplaces. Review and Conclusion: We observed that very few institutions in Japan have rework programs. Occupational and comprehensive centers for mental health and welfare form the core of the programs in Japan. Therefore, rework programs should he implemented by many more hospitals, clinics, and organizations in,Japan. We believe it is important to establish organizations that facilitate interactions between medical institutions, industrial physicians, and workers' families to understand the changes observed in workers at an early, stage and hence prevent the onset of mental disorders.