Challenges to recognize Work-stress as a professional illness: The Chilean case.

The presentation will show a description of the Chilean legislation and its newest changes in the work-stress (occupational mental health) arena, including the Work Accidents and Professional Illnesses Act, enacted in 1968, in which occupational neurosis was officially recognized as the only illness from psychiatric cause. Besides, newest changes in rules, executive decrees, and decree-laws regarding occupational neurosis will be shown. Between 2015 – 2016, the Social Security Authority ruled that occupational mental illnesses must be declared through deliberation of a clinical committee. Examination procedure needs both medical and psychological clinical evaluations, and to examine work conditions, through a called “work-stress workplace investigation”.