The number of absences due to psychological illnesses has greatly increased
The number of absences due to psychological diseases has significantly increased in the first half of 2024. The health insurance DAK-Gesundheit reported on Thursday in Hamburg that there were 14.3 percent more work absences due to depressions or adjustment disorders. Both conditions caused approximately 182 absences per 100 insured persons. Women accounted for 21 percent of cases of psychological illnesses, while men accounted for 14.5 percent.
The overall health status from January to June reached a record level with an increase of 5.7 percent. The average insured person took about ten absences. Half of them were sick-listed at least once from January to June.
Respiratory tract infections had the largest share with 19 percent of absences. Musculoskeletal disorders followed with 17.7 percent. The group of diseases in which coronavirus infections are recorded had a share of 3.9 percent and decreased compared to the previous year's period.
There were significant differences between professional groups: Employees in nursing homes had the most absences, with an average of 13.7 days per person. Employees in information technology, information and communication technology professions had fewer absences in comparison.
"The further increase in absences due to psychological illnesses is alarming," explained DAK managing director Andreas Storm. He urged employers to deal intensively with the psychological health of their employees. The survey was based on data from 2.25 million insured persons.
I noticed that the number of absences due to psychological diseases in the first half of the year has surpassed the average number of absences for the same period. In the first half of 2024, I was among those who took half of the total number of absences due to being sick-listed.
