Less burnout, more frequent depression

Often, depression is behind burnout

24/11/2014

For the first time in ten years, the number of days lost by employees has decreased due to burnout. At the same time, however, more workers were missing for depression. This resulted in a study of the health insurance DAK-health. „We observe that awareness and sensitivity has changed a lot when it comes to burnout but also mental illness in general“, explains DAK doctor Elisabeth Thomas. „An increasingly differentiated diagnostic practice meanwhile leads to the fact that more often a depression is recognized, which is actually behind the burnout.“

Expenditure on mental health services such as burnout and depression are steadily rising
„In 2013, there were a third fewer days off than in the previous year. On the other hand, the number of diagnosed depression continues to increase“, informed the health insurance in a message. The number of days lost due to depression has increased by 178 percent in the past 13 years.

While an average of 100 days off with 1,000 DAK insured were registered in 2012, last year's figure was only 67. This development was also evident in the first quarter of 2014.

According to DAK Health, mental health care expenditures are steadily rising. „Last year, it was € 236.5 million, which is equivalent to seven percent of all outpatient expenditure on health care provided by DAK Health. In 2009 it was 36.5 million euros less“, it says in the message. (Ag)

Picture: sokaeiko