Proposed flowchart for the management of suspected work-related mental disorders: an experience report

Work-related mental disorders are triggered by factors present in the work environment. Primary health care professionals often face difficulties in establishing the causal link and managing these cases appropriately, largely due to the lack of tools to guide clinical care and referral.

To report the experience of students and faculty in the participatory development of a flowchart for treating suspected Work-Related Mental Disorders cases, involving professionals from the specialized Occupational Health and Mental Health services of the Juazeiro Municipal Health Department, Bahia.

This descriptive experience report was prepared in 2023 as part of an outreach project linked to the Education through Work for Health Program.

The development of the flowchart was organized into four stages: i) technical visits to the Psychosocial Care Center and to the Reference Center for Worker's Health, aimed at bringing teams closer and understanding routine care processes; ii) presentation and discussion, in a dialogue circle, of the Mental Health and Work Care Protocol and the Notifiable Diseases Information System form, focusing on the identification of gaps; iii) collective analysis of the existing care pathway, which revealed weaknesses in communication between services; and iv) shared construction of the flowchart, using active-learning strategies to stimulate critical thinking and strengthen the leadership of the professionals involved.

The multidirectional and participatory flowchart increased professionals' awareness, improved intersectoral communication, and strengthened coordination between Worker's Health and Mental Health services, facilitating the identification and referral of suspected cases.