Health - Health Insurance: More absences due to psychological conditions
Due to psychological illnesses, there have been more DAK insured individuals absent from work in Lower Saxony since January 2024 than in the first half of the year 2023. This is according to an analysis by health insurance DAK-Gesundheit. Nationwide, psychological conditions caused 191 missed days per 100 DAK insured individuals. In the previous year's first half, it was still 181 days.
"Another increase in absenteeism due to psychological illnesses is alarming," said DAK-State Manager Dirk Vennekold. "Employees in Germany continue to be under pressure in these war and crisis times." Employers should pay more attention to questions of psychological health in their workforce, Vennekold urged.
Mental health issues almost equal Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain caused, according to the data, the most absences, with 191.3 missed days per 100 insured individuals. This was slightly less than in the first six months of 2023 (195.6 days).
The health status of employees in Lower Saxony remained at 5.8%, according to DAK, and at record level. Every day in the first six months of 2024, 5.8% of DAK-insured employees were sick-listed. Each of them, on average, took 10.6 days off between January and the end of June 2024.
Many stay home due to respiratory infections
Recently, the AOK Bavaria health insurance also reported that the health status of its insured individuals in the first half of 2024 was very high, namely 6.7%. The AOK attributed this to the increased number of sick notes due to respiratory infections. However, absences of employees are now better recorded since the introduction of digital sick notes.
- The rise in absenteeism due to psychological illnesses in Lower Saxony, as highlighted by DAK-Gesundheit, is largely contributing to the increase in health insurance claims.
- Some employers in Germany, including those in Hannover, are beginning to recognize the impact of psychological disorders on employee productivity and are exploring options for mental health insurance coverage through DAK.
- The analysis by DAK-Gesundheit also revealed that psychological disorders account for a significant number of 'absent days', contributing to the overall burden of illness in Germany.
- The introduction of digital sick notes has made it easier to track and analyze absences due to disease, including mental health issues, providing valuable data for insurers like DAK.
- The prevalence of mental health issues in the workforce has led some companies in Lower Saxony to implement wellness programs and mental health days, as part of their employee benefits package, backed by DAK health insurance.
- Addressing the rise in psychological illnesses in the workplace is not just beneficial for the individual's health, but it also contributes to improved productivity and lower healthcare costs for employers, as evidenced by the data provided by DAK.
