DGB Study Unemployment makes you sick

DGB: Relationship between unemployment and illness: The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) has found in a study that among unemployed in Germany, one in five to sixth „health restrictions“ Has.

The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) has found in an investigation that among unemployed in Germany, one in five to sixth „health restrictions“ Has. The labor market expert of the DGB and author of the study, Wilhelm Adamy, spoke to the newspaper „Rheinpfalz on Sunday“ of about half a million unemployed people who are affected. Specifically, metabolic diseases are widespread far below them. Compared with the workforce, people without a job are twice as likely to suffer from cancer and four times as many mental illnesses. Every seventh unemployed person should now be prescribed psychotropic drugs.

A study by the IGES Institute in 2008 certified unemployment favoring diseases. Thus, the risk of long-term unemployment for cardiovascular disease increases. A study by the University of Leipzig pointed out that many people become apathetic due to unemployment and often "only accept their situation". It is important, "not at home to wall", but to become active.

According to the Employment Agency, 1.7 million unemployed people reported sick in the first eleven months of last year alone. This is about 13 percent more than for employees. About 1.7 million unemployed were written ill by a doctor last year. At 35 days in 2007, the average duration of illness was more than three times that of employees and two and a half times that of workers. According to the DGB study, however, the number of unreported cases is many times higher, since many people do not go to the doctor.

These numbers can be attributed, inter alia, to low financial resources. This could possibly play a role in the choice of nutrition. Lack of prospects could also play a major role. Adamy called for cooperation between labor and health authorities to be stepped up in the future in order to be able to initiate and implement individual and more effective measures.

It is to be wished that as many factors as possible are taken into account and tackled, which go beyond the level of fire policy and in the sense of naturopathy strengthen self-responsibility and self-confidence of those affected. It would be desirable to use concepts such as salutogenesis to achieve a fundamental and long-lasting effect. (Thorsten Fischer, Naturopath Osteopathy, 15.02.2010)