According to new figures from the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (RIZIV) the number of people in Belgium that are unable to work for more than a year due to depression or burnout has risen by 44% in 5 years.
Big rise in the number of people unable to work due to long-term depression or burnout, especially among the young
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At the end of 2023, 526,507 people were on long-term incapacity leave. Around 38% cited psychological disorders as the cause of their inability to work. Of these 137,454 people were suffering from depression or burnout.
The sharpest rise was among the under 30s. Among them the figures show a 21.6% increase in just one year. The increase affects those in employment, the self-employed and jobseekers to more or less the same degree. While woman account for 60% of all long-term incapacity cases, they account for 69% of such cases that have resulted from depression or burnout.
While the 55-59 age demographic accounts for the highest number of cases. The sharpest rise was noted among younger people that are of working age.
Some experts attribute the trend to increased pressure at the workplace, shifting career expectations and a greater willingness to report mental health issues.
The financial impact of mental health issues is also growing. In 2023 Belgium spent over 2 billion euro on long-term sickness benefits paid to people with these conditions in 2023. This is a rise of 15% on 2022 and 74% on 2018.