Significant Increase in Sick Days Due to Depression Reported

Recent data from the DAK-Gesundheit has revealed a staggering 50% rise in sick days attributed to depression over the past year. The statistics indicate that for every 100 employees, mental health diagnoses accounted for 342 sick days, a notable increase from 323 days the previous year. Specifically, the number of sick days due to depression rose from 122 to 183 days per 100 employees.

The DAK's latest Psychreport highlights that workers in childcare and elder care sectors are particularly affected by mental health issues. DAK's CEO emphasized the importance of addressing this growing concern, noting that mental health is vital for both individual well-being and the economic stability of Germany.

He urged for enhanced awareness regarding the causes of mental health disorders and called for open conversations about depression and anxiety. Furthermore, he stressed the need for supportive measures aimed at improving mental health among the workforce.

The rise in depression-related sick days spans all age groups. Younger employees have shown a gradual increase in mental health issues over recent years, while a significant spike was observed among older workers in 2024. For instance, sick days due to depression for employees over 60 increased from 169 to 249 days per 100 employees.

In terms of the duration of sick leave, the average time off for mental health-related illnesses in 2024 was approximately 33 days, slightly exceeding the previous year's figures. The incidence of prolonged sick leave, categorized as lasting between 29 to 42 days, also saw a 14% increase.

The DAK-Gesundheit, one of Germany's largest statutory health insurance providers, conducted this analysis based on data from 2.42 million insured employees, processed by the IGES Institute in Berlin.