OECD exposes myths & misconceptions about mental illness
By Ian Birch
Some worrying new statistics have been released in an attempt to expose myths and misconceptions about mental illness in the workplace.
The OECD's (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) report "Sick on the job? Myths and Realities about Mental Health at Work" shows one in five employees have a mental health difficulty, such as anxiety or depression, and many are struggling to cope. Three quarters of workers with mental health problems report reduced productivity at work -- that compares with a quarter of people without.
People with mental health disorders are two to three times more unlikely to work than people without any disorder, but the OECD claims most people with mental health problems do work with rates between 55-70%.
This contrasts with Rethink Mental Illness statistics which show that fewer than 4% of people with severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia work more than 16 hours per week.
Increasing job insecurity and pressure in today’s workplaces could drive a rise in mental health problems in the years ahead, says the OECD. The share of workers exposed to work-related stress, or job strain, has increased in the past decade all across OECD countries. And in the current economic climate, more and more people are worried about their job security.
A spokesperson for the OECD said: "Most common mental disorders can get better, and the employment chances be improved, with adequate treatment. But health systems in most countries are narrowly focused on treating people with severe disorders, such as schizophrenia, who make up only one-fourth of sufferers.
"Taking more common disorders more seriously would boost the chances for people to stay in, or return to, work. Today, almost 50% of those with a severe mental disorder and over 70% of those with a moderate mental disorder do not receive any treatment for their illness."
You can read more about OECD report on the web here:
http://www.oecd.org/document/28/0,3746,en_2649_33929_49099804_1_1_1_1,00.html
