New Australian guidelines have been issued for the diagnosis and management of work-related mental health conditions.

Professor Danielle Mazza, Head of the Department of General Practice at Monash University and colleagues developed 11 evidence-based recommendations and 19 consensus-based statements which aim to assist GPs with:

  • the assessment of symptoms and diagnosis of a work-related mental health conditions
  • the early identification of a mental health condition that develops as a comorbid or secondary condition after an initial workplace injury
  • determining if a mental health condition has arisen as a result of work factors
  • managing a work-related mental health conditions to improve personal recovery or return to work
  • determining if a patient can work in some capacity
  • communicating with the patient’s workplace
  • managing a work-related mental health condition that is not improving as anticipated

The guideline focuses on conditions that may have arisen as a result of work, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder and substance use disorder.

It is based on key principles articulated in the Health Benefits of Good Work consensus statement, and the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, which emphasises that “consumers and carers have vital contributions to make and should be partners in planning and decision-making”.

The new guidelines are accessible here.