People diagnosed with mental illnesses tend to lose lots of years of work, a new study claims.
Different diagnoses cause different numbers of missed years in average, and these numbers are higher than we used to think.
Let's find out more.
More about the research
A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from Aarhus University analyzed data from over 5 million individuals aged 18 to 65 years in Denmark over a span of 22 years.
Their objective was to understand the consequences faced by those diagnosed with mental disorders.
Among the participants, 488,775 were diagnosed with a mental disorder, and the study yielded a significant discovery: all diagnosed mental disorders are associated with a substantial loss of working life.
Surprisingly, the impact was even greater than expected, with those diagnosed with mental disorders losing an average of about 10.5 years of their working life.
While the study focused on cases treated within the psychiatric system, milder instances of depression and anxiety were not fully represented, hinting at a broader impact of mental disorders on working life.
The researchers also found that the number of working years lost due to disability pension declined considerably in Denmark between 1995 and 2016, which aligned with a policy reform in 2013 that made it harder for younger people to receive disability pensions.
Why is it helpful
As the study provided essential insights by summarizing the data, the researchers plan to conduct further investigations to understand the reasons behind these findings and explore the potential effects of the 2013 policy reform.
Such understanding could shape policies and interventions to support individuals with mental health conditions and facilitate their successful reintegration into the workforce.
