Keio Center for Stress Research (CSR)

In recent years, corporate mental health issues have become a major social problem, with an increase in long-term leave due to mental health problems, a rise in workers' compensation cases for mental disorders, suicides from overwork (karoshi), and harassment issues. Furthermore, the importance of occupational mental health is ever-increasing, as seen in the mandatory implementation of stress checks. Moreover, the work environment is changing dramatically due to factors like globalization and work-style reforms, making adaptability to these changes even more crucial.

This center researches and develops a comprehensive mental health support system (KEAP: Keio Employee Assistance Program) that covers everything from the prevention of mental disorders like depression to support for returning to work. We also implement and verify this system through contract projects with companies. In addition, we contribute to raising the standard of occupational mental health practices in Japan.

KEAP (Keio Employee Assistance Program), return-to-work support, depression in the workplace, stress disorders, occupational mental health measures, epidemiological research on depression

■ Activities Continuing from FY2019: Background, Rationale, and Goals

Multiple companies have expressed their desire to continue with KEAP.

We will complete our research on the wellbeing effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, funded by a MEXT Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research.

To expand interventions based on mindfulness and positive psychology into the occupational health and nursing care fields, we will promote the introduction of our programs in companies and care facilities.

Furthermore, in the medical field, we will verify its long-term effects with research funding from AMED.

■ New Activity Goals and Content for FY2020, and Implementation Background

As part of health and productivity management, we are in negotiations with multiple companies to introduce mindfulness for the purpose of improving workers' health, and we will further advance these efforts.

We will proceed with verifying the effects of mindfulness on improving labor productivity in companies (currently applying for a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research).

We will hold training sessions to deepen knowledge of occupational psychiatry and engage in activities to disseminate knowledge of occupational mental health in the occupational health field.

■ Implementation Details, Research Outcomes, and Degree of Achievement Relative to the Fiscal Year Business Plan

We continued the KEAP project, improving the program and accumulating knowledge. Three companies are currently continuing with the program.

Based on the cognitive function training program created for the RHP (Return to Health Program: Keio's Rework Program), we collaborated with the Osaka Institute of Technology to develop new cognitive function training software (for working memory and attention). While verifying the program's effectiveness, we have begun preparations for its introduction into our rework program.

We held training sessions (Keio Occupational Mental Health Conference) and provided educational programs and opportunities to acquire knowledge about occupational mental health.

With a MEXT Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, we developed a program on the wellbeing effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, conducted an RCT, and completed it.

We summarized the results of our research on the effects and cost-effectiveness of learning therapy for dementia, conducted with project funds from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and commissioned research funds from the Kumon Institute of Education, and published them in a paper.

We are continuing our research on the wellbeing of caregivers, commissioned by the Kumon Institute of Education.

With a research grant from AMED, we have started an RCT to verify the long-term effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.

We completed a cost-effectiveness study of antidepressants, commissioned by Meiji Seika Pharma, and published a paper on it.

We conducted training on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, whose effectiveness we are working to demonstrate, at multiple companies, paving the way for future implementation and development.

Through these activities, we believe we have achieved a sufficient level of accomplishment.

Number of published papers: 18

Main journals:

Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Int J Ment Health Syst., J Affect disord

Seishinka, Seishin Igaku, Japanese Journal of Cognitive Therapy, Japanese Journal of Occupational Mental Health, Sangyo Stress Kenkyu (Journal of Occupational Stress Research)

Number of conference presentations (domestic): 14

Achievements in social contribution, such as events

June 2018, August 2018, February 2019:

Keio Occupational Mental Health Conference (3 times)

April 2019–March 2020:

Kodera Memorial Psychoanalytic Study Foundation "Practical Seminar on Occupational Mental Health for Clinicians" (15 times)

Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA):

"Training for In-house Mental Health Promotion Staff"

"Specialized Training for Psychological Counseling"

At various other companies:

"Mental Health Training for Managers and Supervisors"

"Mental Health Training for New Employees"

"Mental Health Training for General Employees"

Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA):

"Practical Skills Improvement Training for Mind and Body Health Promotion Leaders"

At various other companies:

"Mindfulness Training"

In FY2019, we continued the KEAP project and further accumulated knowledge from it.

With a MEXT Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, we developed a program on the wellbeing effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and completed an RCT. We summarized the results of our research on the effects and cost-effectiveness of learning therapy for dementia, conducted with project funds from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and commissioned research funds from the Kumon Institute of Education, and published them in a paper. We are continuing our research on the wellbeing of caregivers, commissioned by the Kumon Institute of Education.

A cost-effectiveness study of antidepressants, commissioned by Meiji Seika Pharma, was completed and a paper was published. We conducted training on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, whose effectiveness we are working to demonstrate, at multiple companies, paving the way for future implementation and development.

As a social contribution, we continued the Keio Occupational Mental Health Conference. Furthermore, we widely disseminated our initiatives through opportunities such as academic conferences and lectures.

Keio University Keio Center for Stress Research (CSR)