Workers conceal mental illness

Many workers with depression or burnout hide their suffering for fear

08/21/2013

Mental illnesses such as depression, burnout or anxiety disorders are the third most common reason for absenteeism in the workplace. This resulted in an investigation of the health insurance DAK-health. Yet, many workers hide their mental health problems for fear of losing their job or out of shame. For mental illness is still considered a taboo.

Many workers go to work despite mental illness
High absenteeism at work does not look like a superior. If these are also due to mental health problems, many workers are worried about their job. „Nobody wants to work with a 'psycho'?“, many are concerned. That's why many a worker drags to work despite his suffering - until he really can not anymore and threatens to collapse.

Psychological illnesses have long played a similar role as physical complaints. According to the DAK Health Report 2013, depression, burnout and other mental health conditions are the third leading cause of absenteeism in the workplace. 13 percent of absenteeism in the first half of 2013 was due to this diagnosis. The first two places show musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain and respiratory diseases such as colds.

Nevertheless, mental illness is still often considered a taboo. When analyzing the data of 2.7 million employed persons and a survey of 3,000 men and women by the Forsa Institute showed, according to DAK, that 65 percent of respondents were more uncomfortable to be on sick leave due to mental illness than physical complaints. It is difficult for many to confess to a mental suffering. The survey also found that one in three sufferers assume that they do not understand their job poorly if they fail. Many sufferers would therefore hide their mental health problems.

Slow rethinking could destigmatize mental illness
Whether the fear of the reaction of colleagues and supervisors is actually justified, certainly depends on the individual case. However, the fact is that more and more celebrities are now acknowledging their mental health problems. For example, Catherine Zeta-Jones has been making headlines over the last few months because of the Hollywood actress's public confessing to depression. Since the tragic suicide of football professional Robert Enke in 2009, the topic of depression in competitive sports is discussed again and again. In addition, some companies now offer programs for the prevention of burnout, so that at least in part a social rethinking and a destigmatization of mentally ill patients seems to take place.

An indication of this could also be the rising numbers of sick leave due to mental suffering. „Many workers today are more likely to be on sick leave, whereas earlier they were unable to work with diagnoses such as chronic low back pain or stomach discomfort“, explains Frank Meiners, graduate psychologist at DAK-Gesundheit. (Ag)

Picture credits: Dieter Schütz