The cost of sick leave landed at 91.9 billion kronor in 2024, according to the insurance company Skandia's measurement. 46 percent of sick leave can be linked to mental illness – the single largest cause. Something that does not surprise Eva Vingård, doctor and professor emeritus in occupational and environmental medicine.
It's a relative figure and concept, since other things have decreased. However, it's a high figure for mental diagnoses. It's probably easier to get sick leave due to mental illness today compared to before, especially for women, she says.
Reduced stigmatization
Vingård believes that reduced stigmatization in society regarding mental illness means that more people get sick leave.
People dare to talk about how they feel, show it openly, and seek help in a completely different way. In the past, mental illness was not mentioned at all, patients didn't even want to get sick leave for that reason. It's different now.
Vingård continues:
One should also consider that serious mental illnesses have not increased, but it's mainly about reactions to everyday stress and demands that make people feel unwell.
"Not toothless"
Employers have an important role to play in preventing mental illness, and despite high sick leave rates, Eva Vingård believes that the legislation works well.
The Work Environment Act is not toothless, it's good. It's clear how a good workplace with a good work environment should look like. However, it must be implemented, and it's the employer who is responsible for the work environment and must be responsive to how employees feel, she says.
Then, individuals must become better at realistically adjusting their demands and possibilities for performance both at work and in private life.
