Rajgopal Md Thirumalai

Aside from personal impacts, costs to employers and national economies of mental health can be measured in trillions of dollars. With volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity increasingly describing the new normal workplace, the need for evidence-based interventions for sustained mental health at work to be developed, evaluated and implemented by specialists in psychiatry and occupational health could not be greater, nor an updated position statement on work and mental health from the World Psychiatric Association.

Objective: The aim of the study is to understand the needs and interests of occupational medicine physicians (OMPs) as they transition to retirement. Methods: An electronic survey was distributed through member organizations in the United States (ACOEM), United Kingdom (SOM/FOM), India (IAOH), South Africa (SASOM), and Medichem. Results: Four hundred ninety-seven OMPs at various career stages responded, including 282 from the United States, 97 from the United Kingdom, 36 from India, 30 from South Africa, and 52 from other countries. Two hundred seventy-eight work full-time, 160 part-time, and 58 are not doing paid work. Approximately 60% serve as volunteers. Sixty percent have a written financial plan. Thirty-five percent are very comfortable with their retirement plans. After leaving full-time work, 85% plan to work part-time. There is a high level of interest in learning about opportunities for part-time work and volunteering. Conclusions: Occupational medicine physicians are very interested in learning more about compensated and uncompensated work in retirement.

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