Trainees increasingly suffer from mental health problems

Extreme increase in mental health problems among trainees
According to a recent study by the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) apprentices are increasingly suffering from mental health problems. Absenteeism due to depression, adjustment and stress disorders, etc. have increased significantly above average among trainees in recent years. The health promotion in the company must worry more about the trainee health, warns the Techniker health insurance.

In the case of trainees between the ages of 16 and 25, absenteeism due to mental health problems has increased by 108 percent since the year 2000, according to the TK. Looking at all age groups, the average increase was 88 percent. "For years, the health insurance companies have recorded an increase in mental absenteeism of employees", but "among trainees, this is even greater than the average of the employees," reports the TK. One cause is the high level of stress experienced by career entrants, which in turn is at least partly due to their media consumption.

According to the current health report of the Techniker Krankenkasse, apprentices often develop mental health problems. (Image: Gina Sanders / fotolia.com)

Mental sick leave increased significantly
From the numbers of the current health report of the Techniker health insurance shows that the absenteeism due to mental disorders in the past years increased substantially. "In many areas - in diagnoses, hospital stays, drug prescriptions and sick leave - we see a significant increase in mental health problems", emphasizes Dr. med. Jens Baas, CEO of TK. The possible causes for this are manifold. So diagnoses are better today and there is better medical care, but also "our way of life, how we work, how we deal with stress and how and if we make up for balance play a big role."

Depression in third place of the sick leave reasons
Overall, absenteeism among apprentices was lower than the average (11.5 absentee days compared to 14.8 days lost), but psychologically related absenteeism shows a contrary development. Thomas Grobe from the Institute for Applied Quality Assurance and Research in Health Care (aQua), which evaluated the TK data. "While mental health absenteeism has been stagnating at a high level for three years overall, it is continuing to rise in the youngest employee group," reports Grobe. Depression is in third place of the main causes of sick leave behind respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.

Data from 4.8 million insured evaluated
According to the TK, the sickness reports and drug prescriptions of 4.8 million persons insured with TK were evaluated for the health report 2017. This year's theme focuses on the health of apprentices. The basis for this is the data of 187,000 TK-insured trainees between the ages of 16 and 25 years. These show a very questionable development in mental illness, which indicates an increased need for action. Here it becomes clear "that we have to take more care of the health of the youngest group of workers," Dr. Jens Baas.

Digital media a stress factor?
The experts also cite media consumption as the reason for the high level of stress experienced by career entrants. "Many like to spend their closing time with digital media. That alone does not have to be harmful per se. But trying to use them at the same time or alternately and being constantly distracted and interrupted, costs the brain power and costs the regeneration, "explains neurologist Dr. med. Volker Busch in the press release of the TK. Effective relaxation of the brain occurs only through the concentrated depth of a matter, the sinking into a book, a conversation or the enjoyment of nature. "Our brains need such periods of rest, even if some have to learn again to endure them," Dr. Bush on. (Fp)