- Project number: F 2525
- Institution: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)
- Status: Completed Project
Description:
Mental health crises and disorders are the second most common cause of work incapacity. In order to provide early support for affected individuals and strengthen their work ability, flexible services are needed that combine medical-therapeutic and work- related measures.
From 2020 to 2024, as part of the randomized controlled intervention study (RCT) "Early Intervention in the Workplace" (friaa), a workplace-based psychotherapeutic consultation service (PT-A) was further developed and qualitatively evaluated by the BAuA. Study locations included Ulm, Düsseldorf, Hildesheim, Erlangen, and Berlin. A total of 550 participants from over 60 companies took part in the RCT. Psychotherapists offered PT-A in private rooms at company sites or university hospitals. All participants received an initial consultation including comprehensive diagnostic assessment. The intervention group was also able to attend up to 16 therapeutic individual sessions. A distinctive feature of the intervention was direct connection to the workplace context.
The RCT shows that after 15 months, the intervention group showed a significant improvement in clinical symptoms such as depression and anxiety compared to the control group.There was no difference in the reduction of sick leave days. Qualitative results show that employees sought PT-A before prolonged periods of absence occurred. Following PT-A, most reported restored work ability, higher self-efficacy, and improved work-life balance.
Access to PT-A differed by gender: men were more likely to use referrals via company representatives, while women sought out the consultation service independently. The high proportion of men and first-time users indicates improved access for previously underserved employees. The workplace-based service is particularly well suited to reaching individuals who might othen/vise seek help late or not at all.
For further information please visit www.friaa.de/en.
