Investing in the mental health of the labor force: Epidemiological and economic impact of mental health disabilities in the workplace

Abstract

By the year 2020, depression will emerge as one of the leading causes of disability globally, second only to ischemic heart disease (World Health Organization 2001). Thus, governments are taking notice of the mental health of workers. For example, the European Ministers of Health have endorsed a detailed action plan calling for employers to create healthy workplaces by introducing-measures such as exercise, changes to work patterns, sensible hours, and healthy management styles, and also to include mental health in programs dealing with occupational health and safety (World Health Organization 2005). More recently the European Union's Pact for Mental Health and Wellbeing identifies the workplace as one of its four areas for action (Commission of the European Communities 2008). © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.