Emotional Depression Depression reaches its peak in January

Sick leave due to depression in January peaked

According to health experts, the absence days due to mental illness have been increasing for years. Unsurprisingly, January is the month when there are more sick leave due to depression than any other. After all, it is usually gray and dark at the beginning of the year.

More and more people are suffering from mental illness

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, the number of people with depression worldwide has increased significantly. In Germany and the EU too, more and more people are suffering from the mental illness. According to the German Depressionshilfe, more than five million people in this country suffer from unipolar depression requiring treatment each year. As a statement of the health insurance DAK-health shows, the number of people affected right now at the beginning of the year.

In January there are more sick leave due to depression than in any other month. Because at the beginning of the year, many people experience a spiritual low, because the Christmas holidays are over and the days are often gray and dark. (Image: BillionPhotos.com/fotolia.com)

After Christmas and New Year follows emotional deep

At Christmas and New Year follows the depression in many Germans: In January there are more sick leave with this diagnosis than in any other month. This is shown by a current analysis of DAK health from 2013 to 2016.

The share of yellow notes with this diagnosis in January 2016 was ten percent. According to the DAK statistics, sick leave is the lowest level in the Christmas month of December.

"In January, many people experience a spiritual low, because the Christmas holidays are over and the days are mostly gray and dark," explains Dr. Hendrik Spohr, doctor at DAK-Gesundheit.

"Therefore, the number of sick leave due to depression after the turn of the year increases. We have been observing this trend for several years. "In the summer, the number of sick leave declines before it rises again in the autumn months.

Advisory hotline for insured persons of all health insurances

In response to the analysis, DAK Health offers a telephone hotline for those affected and relatives. Medical experts advise on 17 January between 8 and 20 o'clock.

The services offered on the freephone number 0800 1111 841 can be used by insured persons of all health insurances.

The advisory hotline will be supplemented on January 17th with a live chat on Facebook.

Depression can become chronic

If depression is not recognized in time and treated consistently, it can become chronic. The treatment is traditionally with medications (antidepressants) and psychotherapy.

But sports also help against depression.

At German clinics such as the Hannover Medical School (MHH), a training program against depression was introduced years ago. (Ad)