Work-related depression incurs an annual cost exceeding €100 billion across the European Union, as highlighted by a recent study from the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI). The study identifies five primary psychosocial risks contributing to mental health issues: workplace stress, extended working hours, job insecurity, imbalance between effort and reward, and moral harassment.
These risks pose significant threats, with data indicating that approximately 6,000 deaths from coronary heart disease and over 5,000 suicides were linked to depression in 2015. That same year, more than 400,000 years of life were lost due to cardiovascular disease and depression. The ETUI emphasizes that these deaths are preventable, attributing 8% of cardiovascular diseases and 23% of depression cases to these psychosocial factors.
The economic impact of depression and related cardiovascular diseases, particularly coronary heart disease and stroke, has been quantified for the first time by the institute. This financial strain is notably heavy in France, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, and the Netherlands, with costs borne by both employers and employees, albeit often unevenly. In 2015, over 80% of the total cost of depression in Europe was linked to workplace psychosocial risks, affecting employers through decreased productivity and increased absenteeism.
Presenteeism, where employees attend work but perform suboptimally due to health issues, especially mental health, further exacerbates the economic burden. These findings are based on 2015 data from Eurofound, which conducts a study on working conditions every five years. However, the 2020 pandemic disrupted these surveys, and ETUI awaits new data to continue its research and analyze trends in work-related health risks.
In response to these insights, the European Trade Union Institute urges the European Commission to introduce legislation aimed at bolstering prevention efforts. Such a directive on mental health should also offer guidance for employers. While acknowledging the complexity of prevention efforts, which vary by workplace and workforce, the institute highlights the crucial role of involving workers in these processes.
