Depression costs over half a billion a year
Absenteeism, pension costs, and productivity add to expenses
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By Katri Kallionpää
Increasing numbers of employees in Finland are taking early retirement resulting from depression. Last year a new record was set when 4,300 people went on disability pension for depression, representing growth of more than nine per cent from the previous year.
Depression and other mental health disorders are already as common a reason for disability pension as the traditional primary cause - diseases of the bones and muscles.
According to the Finnish Centre for Pensions, the pension system incurred expenses of EUR 413 million from paying disability pensions attributed to depression. The National Insurance Institution (KELA) calculates that EUR 109 million were spent on sick leave caused by depression.
Growth in the use of antidepressant medicine evened out somewhat in 2005-2006, but last year there was another surge of growth.
"Pensions are just the tip of the iceberg. The amount of absenteeism caused by depression has also grown", says psychiatrist Teija Honkonen, secretary-general of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health's Masto project, aimed at preventing depression and work disability caused by it.
The average sick leave granted for depression is three months, which is much more than the average for other diseases.
In addition, depression causes reduced productivity at work.
"According to a study in the United States, the input of a person suffering from depression is about two working days' a month less than someone who is not depressed", says Teija Honkonen.
Depression is has the potential of becoming a serious economic problem. Minister of Social Affairs and Health Liisa Hyssälä (Centre) launched the new Masto project last autumn, aimed at preventing depression, and at keeping those who already suffer from it from being pushed out of the work force. At the same time, the possible need to re-examine legislation in order to better achieve these goals will also be assessed.
The project is to continue until the spring of 2011.
The curious thing about depression is that although the pension costs caused by it have increased significantly, depression itself has not increased in recent years. Depression affects about six per cent of people of working age. The number has remained unchanged for about the past 20 years.
Honkonen says that the increase in early retirement because of depression reveals more about changes in society and working life.
"There is a more tolerant attitude than before toward depression. People are more willing to seek help. On the other hand, the demands of society and work have become more severe. A depressed person no longer copes at work", Honkonen explains.
"Work involves stress and constant changes, which put a strain on people. In addition, there are demands for creativity, innovation, good people skills and networking. A depressed person is withdrawn and passive. His or her concentration and attentiveness are poor."
"In physical work, people with the same symptoms could cope, and manual work actually promoted mental stability and advance recovery", Honkonen explains.
Last year the number of disability pensions for depression increased especially among women aged 50 to 60. Already 60 per cent of those granted disability pension for depression are women.
Those who take early retirement for depression tend to be better educated than others who are on disability pension; they have higher incomes, and their pension is correspondingly better than others in the same predicament.
The majority of those retiring early because of depression work in the private sector.
Proportionally, the percentage of those going on disability pension for depression is higher in the state sector than in the private sector. This can be partly explained by structural differences.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 22.3.2008
KATRI KALLIONPÄÄ / Helsingin Sanomat
katri.kallionpaa@hs.fi
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| 26.3.2008 - THIS WEEK |
 Depression costs over half a billion a year |
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