The development of mental health problems and absences in the healthcare and social welfare sector as well as in the art, culture and events sectors is similar to other sectors

National registry data regarding specialized health care appointments, sickness absences and disability pensions, such as The State of Work Ability in Finland data used in this analysis, enables the monitoring of the prevalence of mental health diagnoses, sickness absences and disability pensions in different occupational groups.

The increased rate of mental health problems in the population in general, and especially among young people, has raised the question of whether the development is similar in different professions. On the other hand, the need to reduce mental health-related sickness absences in particular, as outlined in the Government Programme, requires up-to-date information on the prevalence of these sickness absences in different occupational groups.

A separate review of the healthcare and social welfare sector and the art, culture and events sectors is justified due to the significant differences between the sectors. For example, work in the healthcare and social welfare sector typically concerns the public sector and is carried out in an employment relationship. In contrast, project-based employment relationships and small entrepreneurship are typical in the art, culture and events sectors, which means that income from several different sources is common.

The share of employees in the healthcare and social welfare sector as well as the art, culture and events sectors who received specialized health care due to a mental health diagnosis remained fairly stable in 2010–2015, and this trend was also fairly consistent among employees in other sectors during the same period. However, in 2016, the share of people who received specialized health care due to a mental health diagnosis began to increase, which was particularly noticeable among those working in the art, culture and events sectors. The growth halted in 2019–2020, which was partly caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the cuts to non-urgent care in 2020. After that, the growth resumed, and a similar trend can be seen in the healthcare and social welfare sector as well as other sectors.

A review by age group shows that the share and increase of mental health diagnoses were highest in the youngest age group of 18–29-year-olds. On the other hand, the share of people aged 50 or older who received specialized health care due to a mental health diagnosis remained low.

The share of people receiving sickness allowance based on all diagnoses combined was the highest (15–17%) in the healthcare and social welfare sector throughout the analysis period, compared to 8–11% in other sectors and 7–8% in the art, culture and events sectors.

The share of people receiving sickness allowance was higher in older age groups, but it decreased slightly during the analysis period in all but the youngest age group. The share increased or remained the same only in the youngest age group, depending on the industry.

When limiting the analysis to people who received sickness allowance based on mental health diagnoses, it can be seen that this share has increased significantly in all age and occupational groups since 2016. A particularly steep increase can be seen in the youngest age group (18–29-year-olds) and among healthcare and social welfare employees.

The share of new disability pension recipients during the two-year follow-up period decreased slightly in all occupational groups in 2010–2019. When reviewing the statistics by age group, it can be seen that the share of disability pension recipients in the age groups under 40 has remained consistently low, but the trend has been declining, especially among individuals aged 50 or older in all occupational groups.

When the analysis is limited to disability pensions granted on the basis of mental health diagnoses, it can be seen that the share of recipients has remained very low in all occupational groups throughout the follow-up period. Differences between occupational groups were only observed in people aged 40–49 or older, but the difference was marginal (less than 0.5%).

Early measures should be taken to support the mental health of young employees in particular, regardless of their occupational group

National register data is an important tool for monitoring the health and work ability of different occupational groups. However, based on the analysis, it is clear that the same indicator cannot be applied to all occupational groups. For example, the monitoring of sickness absences is particularly suited to professions where remote work is not possible or where the work is mainly carried out in an employment relationship and includes contact with clients, patients or other people. In these professions, working while sick is typically not possible, and sickness absence periods pose a lower financial risk for the employee. On the other hand, in professions where employment relationships are short, atypical or non-existent (such as small entrepreneurs and freelancers), working while sick may also be necessary for financial security and work continuity. In this case, specialized health care appointments may constitute a more relevant indicator of health.

Both sickness absences and treatment appointments are indicators of an already symptomatic illness, which is why other indicators for preventive measures must be adopted. On the other hand, when the healthcare and social welfare sector, the art, culture and events sectors and other sectors were compared, it became apparent that the indicators (specialized health care appointments, sickness absences and disability pensions) remained fairly stable in 2010–2021. Despite the higher share of mental health diagnoses in the art, culture and events sectors compared to the other analysed sectors and the higher share of sickness allowance recipients in the healthcare and social welfare sector, it can be concluded that special attention should be paid to young employees in these and other sectors in order to support their well-being and coping.

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