Tools for Assessing Mental Health Conditions at Work: A Scoping Review

Payam  Khanlari; Leila  Soleimani; AhmadAli  NoorbalaTafti; Elahe  Amouzadeh; Seyed Abolfazl  Zakarian

doi:10.18502/jhsw.v15i1.21365

Payam Khanlari Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Leila Soleimani Department of Ergonomics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
AhmadAli NoorbalaTafti Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Psychosomatic Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Elahe Amouzadeh Department of Ergonomics, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Seyed Abolfazl Zakarian Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jhsw.v15i1.21365

Keywords: Mental health assessment tools, Occupational stress, Occupational depression, Job burnout, Job Anxiety

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health in the workplace is a critical concern that influences both employee well-being and organizational productivity. However, issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, and burnoutcan significantly impair job performance and overall quality of life. While numerous tools have beendeveloped to assess mental health, many are not specifically designed or updated for work environments.As the complexity of the workplace continues to increase, accurate identification and evaluation of theseconditions become increasingly essential. This study aims to review available tools and identify the mosteffective methods for screening and assessing mental health issues in the workplace.

Material and Methods: A scoping review approach was employed to identify mental health assessmenttools applicable to workplace settings. The PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus databases weresearched using keywords related to mental health at work. Studies published after 2020 were included,with a focus on tools developed and validated for work environments. Two authors independentlyextracted and reviewed data from the selected studies. Tools were categorized based on their objectivesand specific characteristics.

Results: After screening, 12 studies were selected from an initial set of 746 papers. The extracted toolswere designed to assess stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. While most tools were originallydeveloped for general settings or the public, some were tailored to specific occupational groups, suchas military personnel and healthcare workers. Burnout assessment tools were the most frequentlyreferenced category.

Conclusion: Newer tools, such as the Work Stress Screener, Occupational Depression Inventory, andBurnout Assessment Tool, offer potential advantages over older instruments. Shorter, specialized tools arerecommended for effectively assessing job-related anxiety. Organizations should prioritize selecting toolsthat align with their employees’ specific working conditions to promote mental health and productivity.