Mental health is once again in the sights of companies with a new phase of NR-01

In the context of mental health at work, since 2024 we have a new opportunity to convince companies to invest in this topic. Regulatory Standard NR-01 was reformulated and included psychosocial risk factors as a mandatory risk to be measured and managed for their minimization or elimination.

Regulatory Standards (NRs) are a set of guidelines established by the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) to guarantee the health and safety of workers in different professional environments. Currently, there are 38 standards in force in Brazil and NR-01 now also includes psychosocial risks present in the work environment.

The review of NR-01 emphasized aspects linked to workers' mental health, meeting the growing demands for corporate environments that protect not only physical health, but also psychological well-being.

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The update highlights the importance of ongoing mental health policies within companies, including:

- Treatment;
- Prevention;
- Psychological support;
- Measures against harassment.

It also reinforces worker participation throughout this process. These actions must be included in the Risk Management Program (PGR), mandatory for all risks present in the work environment and which must be updated periodically, requiring continuous assessment of psychosocial risks.

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The update of NR-01 represents an important advance in recognizing mental health as a fundamental part of safety at work. More than a bureaucratic implementation, this change invites companies to rethink their role in promoting employee well-being and building a healthier, more sustainable and balanced organizational culture.

The psychosocial factors to which the standard refers concern the interactions between the work environment and the individual characteristics of workers, capable of influencing health, performance and professional satisfaction. Among the main psychosocial risks are:

- Quantitative overload - excessive tasks and time pressure;
- Insufficient qualitative workload - limited work and little social interaction;
- Lack of control over work;
- Conflicting roles that harm the worker's ethics;
- Lack of social support from leaders, colleagues or family.

The measurement of these factors is usually done through questionnaires applied to workers, evaluating collective perceptions of sectors, positions, gender or generations. Furthermore, the standard requires the analysis of the severity of the damage and the probability of illness resulting from these factors.

According to the Ministry of Labor and Employment, the new NR-01 came into force in May 2025 on an educational basis, while effective inspection will begin on May 26, 2026. Ordinance MTE 66/24 provides for penalties for companies that fail to comply with requirements related to mental health at work.

In practice, measures to ensure compliance with the standard can occur on three fronts:

- Promotion of mental health - creation of campaigns, workshops and awareness actions;
- Prevention - periodic assessment of the work environment, stress management and leadership training;
- Specialized treatment - access to psychologists and psychiatrists for acute or chronic cases.

Another important point is the constant monitoring of indicators such as absenteeism, presenteeism, absences and increased accident rates, relating these data to workers' mental health. KPIs for accidents, absences, stress levels, engagement and emotional well-being can also be used.

Investment in leadership is also highlighted.

Occupational health leaders and teams must be prepared to identify, embrace and address issues related to mental health, creating more inclusive and emotionally safe environments.

Companies will need to keep the PGR updated, define clear goals, establish preventive and corrective measures, create action schedules and designate those responsible for each initiative. Mental health will definitely become part of the management and safety strategy of organizations.

*Text written by Miryam Mazieiro, psychologist and director of Psychology at Gattaz Health

Study: 31% of Brazilian workers do not take care of their mental health

Source: CNN