Abstract Body

Background and purpose

Long term sickness absence is a common risk for workers with depression and poses significant individual and societal challenges. Most people with depression are cared for by general practitioners (GPs). Still, collaboration with secondary mental care, social workers, and the workplace is often required. The purpose of this study is to explore involved professionals' experiences with collaboration in depression care and how such collaboration may promote sustainable work participation.

Methods

We conducted seven geographically spread focus group interviews with GPs, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, social welfare workers from the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration (NAV), and personnel managers from local workplaces in Norway. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically, with a resource-oriented salutogenic approach, inferring a focus on factors for improving health and well-being.

Preliminary results

First theme illustrated participants' experiences with interprofessional collaboration as sub-optimal. Fragmented systems for follow-up of sick-listed workers with depression were viewed as barriers, exemplified by poor interprofessional information flow, etc. However, access to informal communication through electronic dialogue messages was experienced as facilitative. Second theme emphasized how improved collaboration could promote sustainable work participation. Personnel managers' role and early collaborative interventions were viewed as vital. Moreover, increased use of existing collaborative tools, such as GPs suggesting proper work adjustments for depressed workers via sick-leave certifications, could promote sustainable work participation.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest a need for integrated health- and welfare systems for following up sick-listed workers with depression to improve interprofessional collaboration and to promote sustainable work participation.