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Mental Health at Work: WHO Guidelines for Prevention

WHO has published guidelines on mental health at work with evidence-based recommendations. They cover organizational interventions, manager training and return to work.

IICP HSE Academy Published on 18 October 2026 6 min read 14 views
Santé mentale au travail — OMS

Mental Health at Work: WHO Guidelines for Prevention

The WHO has published guidelines on mental health at work with evidence-based recommendations. They cover organizational interventions, manager training, and return to work.

Definition

According to the WHO, mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community. At work, mental health is not merely the absence of disorders; it determines employee engagement, performance, and quality of life.

Work can have a positive impact on mental health (meaning, autonomy, social connection, income) but also a negative one: excessive demands, lack of support, insecurity, harassment. These are known as psychosocial risks (PSR).

Psychosocial Risks

PSR encompass risks to mental, physical, and social health related to the organization of work. These include:

  • Work-related stress: an imbalance between job demands and the employee's capabilities
  • Burnout (professional syndrome): emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, reduced personal accomplishment. Burnout was recognized as an occupational syndrome by the WHO in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in 2019
  • Psychological and sexual harassment: repeated abusive conduct
  • External violence: assaults by third parties (clients, public)
  • Emotional load: particularly in care, health, and social assistance professions
  • Precariousness and job insecurity

In Morocco, these risks are still insufficiently considered in HSE management systems, even though they represent a major public health issue.

The 2022 WHO Guidelines

In September 2022, the WHO published its Guidelines on mental health at work (ISBN 9789240053052, 134 pages), the first international evidence-based recommendations. They target three major types of intervention:

1. Organizational Interventions

The WHO recommends prioritizing action on the organization itself rather than solely on individuals. This includes:

  • Adjusting workload and deadlines
  • Strengthening worker autonomy and control
  • Improving managerial communication
  • Recognition of work accomplished
  • Combating harassment (procedures, training)

2. Manager Training

Front-line managers play a pivotal role. The WHO recommends specific training for:

  • Identifying signs of psychological distress
  • Conducting individual interviews
  • Referring to available support
  • Adapting the position and schedule if necessary

3. Return to Work and Support for Affected Workers

For individuals on leave for mental health reasons, the WHO recommends structured return-to-work interventions:

  • Regular contact during the leave
  • Gradual return (therapeutic part-time)
  • Workplace adaptation
  • Medical and psychosocial follow-up

Prevention: An Integrated Approach

The prevention of PSR must be part of an overall QHSE management approach:

  1. Diagnosis: social climate surveys, HR indicators (absenteeism, turnover)
  2. Action plan: prioritization, resources, deadlines
  3. Training: managers, HSE teams, employee representatives
  4. Monitoring: indicators, evaluation, continuous improvement

Application in Morocco

The Moroccan Labor Code (Law No. 65-99), particularly its Title IV — "On the hygiene and safety of employees" (articles 281 and onwards), provides a framework for the prevention of occupational risks. The psychosocial dimension remains to be strengthened in Moroccan practice.

The IICP HSE Academy offers dedicated training on mental health at work, burnout prevention, and PSR management for managers and HSE teams.

Sources et références

  1. Code du travail marocain (Loi n° 65-99), Titre IV — articles 281 et suivants ILO NATLEX : https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=67319

  2. WHO — Guidelines on mental health at work (publiées le 28/09/2022, ISBN 9789240053052, 134 pages) — URL vérifiée le 24/10/2026 https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240053052

  3. WHO — Mental health at work (fact sheet) — URL vérifiée le 24/10/2026 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work

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