Labour Market and Mental Health

Regardless of age, gender and employment status, mental health problems as diagnosed causes of illness play a much more important role today than they did fifteen or twenty years ago. The number of sick days caused by mental disorders has risen significantly since the 1990s, although their share of sickness spells (2.5 percent) and sick days (slightly less than 10 percent) is still comparatively low. However, the actual significance of mental illnesses for the well-being of the working population is only partially reflected in the sickness absences statistics.

"Numerous sickness spells that are actually caused by mental disorders are likely to be attributed to other illnesses because of their symptoms when they are diagnosed. It is also likely that the stigmatisation, which is still associated with mental suffering, results in underreporting of these illnesses, too", says Leoni.

According to Leoni, the preservation of mental health and the support of sick people are already central challenges for today's labour market and will continue to gain importance in the future in view of the ageing of the population.

pro mente Austria is the umbrella organisation of 24 non-profit organisations that take care of the needs of people with psycho-social illnesses in Austria.

Further information: www.promenteaustria.at

Thomas Leoni (WIFO), Günter Klug (President of pro mente Austria) and Gernot Koren (Vice President of pro mente Austria) © Harald Schenk