Disability and Return to Work: Facilitators, Barriers, and Canadian (Ontario), Australian, and New Zealand Systems That Support Injured Workers

To better understand how the chapter authors can best support workers with mental and behaviour disorders in their return to work (RTW) efforts, this chapter aims to review the literature on barriers and facilitators of RTW. Specifically, this review focuses on people with mental and behavioural disorders, including sequalae of TBI, and pain disorders. In addition to demographic and illness factors, the chapter authors review workplace factors associated with RTW. The chapter authors also aim to explore the literature on RTW-focused psychological intervention programs to provide the reader with a brief introduction to the approaches that have been employed to support return to productivity. Finally, the chapter authors review the RTW systems that support injured workers in Ontario, Canada (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board), and in Australia and New Zealand, to provide some insight into how injured workers are supported in real-world settings.