Mental illnesses are again increasing significantly

Mental illnesses are increasing again: more and more Germans are suffering from mental disorders

14/02/2011

Mental illnesses increased dramatically in Germany last year. The Techniker health insurance company (TK) reports that the sick leave of their insured in 2010 because of mental suffering increased by 14 percent.

Mental illnesses such as depression, burnout, anxiety disorders, other psychosomatic illnesses or addictions have increased significantly in Germany in 2010. According to TK, sickness absence last year averaged 12.3 days per employee, which equates to a sick leave rate of 3.36 percent. Two days lost per employee were on average due to diseases of the psyche, according to the TK. „In one year, mental illness absences have risen by almost 14 percent“, emphasized Gudrun Ahlers, responsible at the TK for health reporting

Respiratory diseases decline, mental disorders increasingly common
The analysis of sick leave by TK has shown that „Employees (...) 2010 less often ill“ were, explained Gudrun Ahlers. „We record about 2.4 percent fewer sick leave for 2010 than in 2009“, so the expert. Especially with the respiratory diseases a clear decline had been noted. The rate of sick leave among the 3.5 million employees insured with the TK and unemployment benefit I stagnated at 3.36 per cent last year (2009: 3.32 per cent) last year is above all, according to the TK attributed to the increase in sick leave with diagnoses of a mental disorder. Because the sick leave period is far higher here than, for example, in most respiratory diseases. If insured persons are sick for several days due to bronchitis, mental illness can easily be weeks or months. Thus, the declining number of sick leave is offset by an increased sick-leave period.

Pressure to perform and stress Cause of mental suffering
In addition, the TK stated in its health report that the sick leave days differed greatly in the individual federal states. According to the TK, the fewest absences due to sick leave were recorded in Baden-Württemberg with an average of 9.9 days, whereas in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern the highest losses were recorded with 15.5 days. However, the sick leave due to mental illness has risen again significantly in all federal states. The TK, the BKK and the scientific institute of the AOK already stated this trend in separate investigations last year. The experts of the health insurance companies attribute the increase in mental disorders observed for years to the extreme pressure to perform, the increased competition on the job market and the permanent stress that a large number of employees are exposed to. Also affected are now more likely to be treated for mental suffering, whereby the corresponding sick leave have also increased, so the information of the Federal Association of Psychotherapists last year.

Mental illness requires billions in lost production
Another dimension of the effects of mental suffering can be seen from the response of the Federal Ministry of Health to a request from the Greens parliamentary group last year. According to this, the cost of production-related losses due to mental illness is nearly four billion euros per year, and the loss of gross value added in Germany is almost seven billion euros, the Federal Ministry of Health said last year, citing statistics from the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. In addition, significant costs are incurred in the treatment of those affected, which are placing increasing strain on the healthcare system. Experts estimate that up to 30 percent of Germans already suffer from mental illness today, although a significant increase is expected in the future. Nineteen professors and clinic managers from the fields of psychology and psychosomatics had examined the prevalence of mental illness in Germany last year, confirming the frightening trend.

Increase in mental illness - stress test for the health system
Joachim Galuska, medical director of the psychosomatic clinics Bad Kissingen, Thomas Loew, university professor for psychosomatic medicine in Regensburg and Johannes Vogler, chief physician of the clinic Isny ​​Neutrauchburg initiated with the help of the magazine „Focus“ Last year, a warning to point out the social consequences of the enormous increase in the spread of mental suffering. In the future, for example, problems with treatment are foreseeable due to the significant increase in the number of mental disorders, the experts explained. In addition, due to the large number of diagnoses, adequate therapy for patients would no longer be possible in the future. Because even if large additional sums of money would be made available for funding, psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists would need to treat three to five times more patients than they can, warned Galuska, Loew and Vogler. To avoid the manifestation of a mental disorder, the experts advise primarily to avoid stress and relaxation, for example, with the help of relaxation exercises or autogenic training. It also recommends a healthy lifestyle with enough sleep, exercise and good nutrition. However, anyone who recognizes the first signs of a mental disorder should not hesitate and seek support from the specialist at an early stage in order to adequately address the emotional suffering. (Fp)

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Every third person suffers from mental disorders

Picture: Rainer Sturm