Annual Financial Burden of Job-Related Stress in the EU Exceeds €100 Billion
Unleashing the Hidden Burden
✏️ Shed Light on Workplace Woes 💼✏️
Work-related depression in the EU is no joke, shelling out over €100 billion annually, according to a recent study by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI).
🤒 Workplace Woes and Mental Health 💤
This financial burden is mainly due to five psychosocial risks at play: stress at work, long hours, job insecurity, imbalance between effort and reward, and moral harassment (also known as workplace bullying). These culprits can lead to tragic consequences, such as 6,000 coronary heart disease deaths and over 5,000 suicides caused by depression, as back as 2015 data suggests.
💔 The Unpreventable Cost 💔
The EU losing more than 400,000 years of life due to cardiovascular disease and depression is a staggering statistic. Dimitra Theodori, head of health and safety at ETUI, points out that these are preventable deaths. The ETUI study suggests that 8% of cardiovascular diseases and an alarming 23% of depression cases can be attributed to these psychosocial risks.
💲 Who Foots the Bill? 💸
The costs are shared between employers and employees, but often disproportionately. In matters of depression, over 80% of the costs were attributed to psychosocial risks at work in 2015 in Europe. Employers bear the brunt due to reduced productivity, sickness absenteeism, and presence of "presenteeism" (where employees still show up to work but perform less effectively for various health reasons).
⚡ Future Research 🔬
The report is the first to quantify the economic cost of depression and cardiovascular disease linked to psychosocial work factors, but it's based on 2015 data. The ETUI is preparing for a new survey this year to research further and track trends in work-related health risks. They hope the European Commission will strengthen preventative measures, including guidance for employers to address mental health issues.
🤝 Collaborative Prevention 🤝
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for preventing work-related psychosocial risks, the ETUI emphasizes the importance of involving workers in prevention processes to foster a more supportive and healthier workplace.
🕰️ A Clearer Picture 🕰️
To combat these issues, it's crucial to continue research and invest in solutions that prioritize mental health and the well-being of workers.
Related
🌈 Gay, lesbian, and queer students are three times more likely to suffer from depression than peers
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💪 European Union 💪 work conditions 💪 Mental health 💪
- The European Trade Union Institute's (ETUI) research highlights that job-related depression costs the EU over €100 billion annually, emphasizing the need for workplace wellness and mental health interventions.
- The EU's losses due to cardiovascular disease and depression amount to over 400,000 years of life, with preventable deaths contributing a significant portion, as estimated by Dimitra Theodori, head of health and safety at ETUI.
- Scientific studies suggest that LGBTQ+ students are three times more likely to experience depression than their peers, underscoring the importance of health-and-wellness programs in educational settings.
- New genetic risk factors for depression have been identified by researchers, offering potential avenues for future treatments, and highlighting the role of science in mental health research.
