Mielenterveysdiagnoosiperusteisten erikoissairaanhoitokäyntien ja sairauspoissaolojen yleisyys sosiaali- ja terveysalan sekä taide-, kulttuuri- ja tapahtuma-alojen ammateissa vuosina 2010–2021

Authors

• Annina Ropponen
• Elina Ahola Työterveyslaitos https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0098-325X
• Olli Haavisto Työterveyslaitos https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3448-845X
• Pekka Varje Työterveyslaitos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23990/sa.176055

Keywords:

Mielenterveys, Sairauspoissaolot, Sairauspäivärahat, Työkyvyttömyyseläkkeet, Erikoissairaanhoito

Abstract

We investigated the prevalence of specialized healthcare visits, sickness absences (SA), and disability pensions (DP) due to mental health diagnoses among employed individuals in social and healthcare professions, arts, culture, and event industry professions compared to all other occupations from 2010 to 2021. Additionally, the strengths and weaknesses of different indicators for the extent of mental health problems were assessed. The data source was the nationally representative registry data of working-age (18-68 years) employed individuals living in Finland during the years 2010-2021 (n > 2 million individuals).

Prevalence was calculated as the proportion of individuals who had at least one specialized healthcare visit, SA day, or DP due to a mental health diagnosis (ICD-10 F-diagnoses) or for any diagnosis within a year.

The proportion of individuals who had specialized healthcare visits due to a mental health diagnosis increased, especially among 18-29-year-olds throughout the study period. The increase was most pronounced in the arts, culture, and event industry, but also among all professions. The proportion of those with SA due to a mental health diagnosis increased in the social and healthcare sector from 3.1% in 2010 to 5.0% in 2021, in the arts, culture, and event industry from 1.6% to 2.7%, and in other sectors from 1.6% to 2.2%. The prevalence of DP was low and decreasing.

To conclude, the prevalence of specialized healthcare visits and SA due to mental health diagnoses was increasing. The increase in specialized healthcare visits due to mental health diagnoses, particularly among young people and those in the arts, culture, and event industry, should be monitored, and measures should be targeted toward the prevention and treatment of mental ill-health. Moreover, the increase in SA requires action.