drome of learned helplessness, which persists in many people, and is characterised by an inability to make independent decisions, reliance on outside help to solve problems, and poor skills of self-promotion which impact job seeking.

Another issue that impacts mental health protection, especially in the workplace, is the inadequate legislation covering the employer's obligations toward the worker. Current regulations do not sufficiently protect workers' mental health and oblige employers to ensure mental health protection. Information from the Ministry of Labour seems to indicate that, in Poland, there is only limited familiarity with relevant legislation in other countries. Since there are no legal standards defining working conditions necessary to protect mental health in workplace, the State Labour Inspectorate cannot exercise a control function in this area. The enactment of these standards should be major goals for research, policy development. and implementation.

Poland is just beginning the process of involving employers, trade union representatives and professionals in occupational medicine in these problems. Change is highly dependent on the stabilisation of the Polish economy. The significant strides made since the transformation of the Polish economy began a decade ago bode well for the prospects of initiatives promoting mental health in the workplace.