In order to achieve a timely return to work following a period of mental ill health, it may be necessary to make some temporary adjustments within the workplace.
Most managers tend to be fairly comfortable discussing and identifying adjustments for employees with physical disabilities or barriers as the requirements are often quite obvious -- for example, changes to the workstation set up for someone with a back in jury or voice recognition software for someone who can no longer use their computer keyboard because of dexterity problems.
The discussion about adjustments for employees with mental health conditions is often avoided as it feels too difficult. However, it can be very simple and low cost to put in place adjustments for an employee with a mental health condition; adjustments that work for them and for the business.
Do not get hung up on what the condition is, but have a conversation with your employee about what workplace barriers they feel are presented as a result of their condition and what the temporary -- or permanent, in some cases -- "workarounds" might be, given the requirements of their job role.
Make sure you understand the specifics of their job role as well as the effects of their mental health condition, so that you can come up with suggested adjustments, too. Every case will be different and it is important not to make assumptions about how a mental health condition will affect someone in the workplace. Two people suffering from depression, for example, may experience quite different barriers, as it will very much depend on their job role and how the condition affects them personally. Ask your employee about their experience of the condition and what changes they feel would help.
There is no "one-stop shop" for adjustments; you need to be creative, but also realistic, about what can be accommodated within your business or team.
You may want to consider changes to your employee's hours if they are experiencing tiredness due to medication or general fatigue, for example; you may want to look at flexibility in their place of work or a move to homeworking if there are issues with anxiety and concentration when in a crowded workplace, or you may find that additional breaks and somewhere to go for "time out" may help an employee who is feeling overwhelmed.
Different ways of communicating or allocating work, increased structure, memory aids, increased feedback and assigning a buddy or mentor are also adjustments you may find useful to consider. The best options will be identified through a process of discussion and negotiation with the employee.
Also, remember that many employees with mental health conditions will manage perfectly well in the workplace without the need for any adjustments or accommodations, but in the context of managing a return to work, it is important to consider them.