Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T12:03:48.348Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The economics of mental health in the workplace: what do we know and where do we go?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 May 2011

David McDaid
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

To provide an overview of the economic impact of poor mental health in the workplace and assess the extent to which economic evaluation has been used to further the case for investment in workplace based mental health programmes. Rapid scoping review of published and grey literature. The socio-economic costs of poor mental health in the workplace are substantial but conservative, as few studies have included productivity losses from work cutback, as well as absenteeism. While few economic evaluations of workplace based mental health interventions were identified, the available evidence base suggests that they have the potential to be highly cost effective. Much of this evidence may be from the US and be less applicable elsewhere; it may also have been solely published in company documents making assessment of methodological quality difficult. The potential economic case for workplace based mental health interventions appears good. More collaboration between policy makers and the private sector would help facilitate rigorous and transparent economic evaluations. A number of evaluations are planned. The challenge is to build on these initiatives, in order to address what remains a major gap in our knowledge on the economics of mental health.

Type
Editorials
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , December 2007 , pp. 294 - 298
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

References

REFERENCES

Anderson, R., Wynne, R. & McDaid, D. (2007). Housing and employment. In Mental Health Policy and Practice Across Europe (ed. Knapp, M., McDaid, D., Mossialos, E., Thornicroft, G.). Open University Press: Buckingham.Google Scholar
Barry, M.M., Reynolds, C. & Sheridan, A. (2006). Implementation of the JOBS programme in Ireland. Journal of Public Mental Health 5(4), 10–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berkels, H. (2004). Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Strategies for Coping with Anxiety, Depression and Stress Related Disorders in Europe (2001-2003). Research Report 1001. Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Bremerhaven.Google Scholar
Bejean, S. & Sultan-Taieb, H. (2005). Modelling the economic burden of diseases imputable to stress at work. European Journal of Health Economics 50, 16–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Business in the Community (2005). London Underground. Stress Reduction Programme. Retrieved September 26, 2007 from http://www. bitc.org.uk/resources/case_studies/afe_hw_05_lon-donu.htmlGoogle Scholar
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (2007). Annual Survey Report 2007. Absence Management. Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development: London.Google Scholar
Curran, C., Knapp, M., McDaid, D., Tomasson, K. & the MHEEN Group. (2007). Mental health and employment: an overview of patterns and policies across the 17 MHEEN countries. Journal of Mental Health 16(2), 195–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dewa, C.S., McDaid, D. & Ettner, S.L. (2007). An international perspective on worker mental health problems: Who bears the burden and how are costs addressed? Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 52(6), 346–356.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
European Trade Union Confederation (2007). Implementation of the European Framework Agreement on Work-Related Stress. ETUC: Brussels.Google Scholar
Godard, C., Chevalier, A., Lecrubier, L. & Lahon, G. (2006). APRAND programme: an intervention to prevent relapses of anxiety and depressive disorders. First results of a medical health promotion intervention in a population of employees. European Psychiatry 21 (7), 451–459.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gould, R. & Laitinen-Kuikka, S. (2003). Current trends in disability pensions in Europe. In Proceedings from a Seminar Held in Helsinki on 8 April 2003. Finnish Centre for Pensions: Helsinki.Google Scholar
Harkonmaki, K., Lahelma, E., Martikainen, P., Rahkonen, O. & Silventoinen, K. (2006). Mental health functioning (SF-36) and intentions to retire early among ageing municipal employees: the Helsinki Health Study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health 34(2), 190–198.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jahoda, M. (1981). Work employment and unemployment: Values theories and approaches in social research. American Psychologist 36, 184–191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jarvisalo, J., Andersson, B., Boedeker, W. & Houtman, I. (Eds.) (2005). Mental Disorders as a Major Challenge in the Prevention of Work Disability: Experiences in Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. Social Insurance Institution: Helsinki.Google Scholar
Karpansalo, M., Kauhanen, J., Lakka, T.A., Manninen, P., Kaplan, G.A. & Salonen, J.T. (2005). Depression and early retirement: prospective population based study in middle aged men. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 59(1), 70–74.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kessler, R.C. & Frank, R.G. (1997). The impact of psychiatric disorders on work loss days. Psychological Medicine 27, 861–873.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McCrone, P., Knapp, M., Proudfoot, J., Ryden, C., Cavanagh, K., Shapiro, D.A., Ilson, S., Gray, J.A., Goldberg, D., Mann, A., Marks, I., Everitt, B. & Tylee, A. (2004). Cost-effectiveness of computerised cognitive-behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression in primary care: randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Psychiatry 185(1), 55–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McDaid, D., Curran, C. & Knapp, M. (2005). Promoting mental well-being in the workplace: a European policy perspective. International Review of Psychiatry 17(5), 365–373.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McDonnell Douglas Corporation and Alexander Consulting Group (1990). McDonnell Douglas Corporation Employee Assistance Program Financial Offset Study, 1985-1989. McDonnell Douglas Corporation, Westport, CT, and Alexander Consulting Group: Bridgeton, MO.Google Scholar
Monks, J., Strube, J., Reckinger, P. & Plassman, R. (2004). Framework Agreement on Work Related Stress. European Social Partners: Brussels.Google Scholar
Pelletier, K.R. (2005). A review and analysis of the clinical and cost-effectiveness studies of comprehensive health promotion and disease management programs at the worksite: Update VI 2000-2004. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 47, 1051–1057.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Poelmans, S., Compernolle, T., De Neve, H., Buelens, M. & Rombouts, J. (1999) Belgium: A pharmaceutical company. In Preventing Stress, Improving Productivity: European Case Studies in the Workplace (ed. Kompier, M. and Cooper, C.L.), pp. 121–148. Routledge: London.Google Scholar
Sanderson, K. & Andrews, G. (2006). Common mental disorders in the workforce: recent findings from descriptive and social epidemiology. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 51(2), 63–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stewart, W.F., Ricci, J.A., Chee, E., Hahn, S.R. & Morganstein, D. (2003). Cost of lost productive work time among US workers with depression. Journal of the American Medical Association 289, 3135–3144.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomas, C. & Morris, S. (2003). Cost of depression among adults in England in 2000. British Journal of Psychiatry 183, 514–519.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vinokur, A.D., van Ryn, M., Gramlich, E. & Price, R.H. (1991). Long-term follow-up and benefit-cost analysis of the JOBS program: a preventive intervention for the unemployed. Journal of Applied Psychology 76(2), 213–219.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
World Health Organization (2005). Mental Health Declaration for Europe. Facing the Challenges, Building Solutions. WHO: Copenhagen.Google Scholar