| Return to work describes the act of returning to work after a leave and the process of reintegrating back into the work environment. In order to evaluate what factors influence return to work for employees of Vancouver Community Mental Health Services (an agency of Vancouver Coastal Health) who have been on disability leave for mental health and/or addiction-related reasons, 4 employees, 2 coworkers, 8 supervisors, and 1 claims management staff were included in a qualitative action research study. Through one-to-one interviews and a learning circle, participants reported that mental health and addiction understanding, trust and support, and the return to work process influenced return to work. Recommendations for Vancouver Coastal Health include increased return to work staff, dialogue about mental health and addictions, dedicated resources for employee mental health, and involved senior leadership. |
