Improving Psychosocial Factors in Small-Scale Enterprises in Japan and the Asia-Pacific Region

Abstract

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan has reported that smaller enterprises are less active in mental health promotion. Yet few studies exist on mental health activities in small-scale enterprises (with 10–49 employees) and in micro-scale enterprises (with fewer than 10 employees) in Japan. In a review of the literature on preventive occupational health and safety in these enterprises, the employer is the dominant player for any changes which need to be made to promote mental health. This study aimed to clarify the demands facing employers in micro-scale enterprises and small-scale enterprises regarding mental health activities and to establish measures for improving the existing situation in Japan. In 2012, a questionnaire survey was conducted on mental health with 1041 employers, including 367 micro-scale enterprises and 419 small-scale enterprises. The survey included questions about enterprise scales, types of industries, attitude of employers on mental health, annual budgets for mental health activities, future plans for mental health activities, and expectations for external occupational health specialists. The main expectation for external occupational health specialists was counseling for employees. Education for employers themselves was second highest (10.4 %) among the requests from employers in micro-scale enterprises. The median amount budgeted for mental health activities in micro-scale enterprises was 80 US dollars per year, with 37 % of micro-scale enterprises reporting nothing budgeted for it. Therefore, a brochure and video tools on mental health at an affordable price for employers in micro-scale enterprises were developed. Interviews about these tools were implemented in 11 micro-scale enterprises and 18 small-scale enterprises. An analysis of interviews with the employers revealed that most answered, “the brochure and the video tools are easy to understand” (73 % in micro-scale enterprises and 98 % in small-scale enterprises). After additional minor revisions, these tools have been distributed to help improve the mental health situation of these enterprises in Japan.