Mental health at work

Sigmund Freud stated that the pillars of psychological wellbeing are love and work. Unfortunately, it is work that is most sensitive to the impact of mental illness. Return to work has always been a key aim of psychiatric rehabilitation. At times, the illness proves a turning point in life, motivating positive change and greater achievement of life goals. The majority of patients get back to work, but for a minority, work outcomes are bleak. The impact of treatment has even, at times, been negative (for instance, conventional neuroleptics causing the “zombie-like” state of drug-induced Parkinsonism).