Mental health-related sickness absences decreased significantly thanks to brief psychotherapy provided by occupational health services

According to a survey by Terveystalo*, mental health-related sickness absences were reduced by 40% when employees were offered access to brief psychotherapy as part of their occupational health services. Other sickness absences also decreased: other diagnoses showed a relative decrease of 15% and all diagnoses a relative decrease of 34% in sickness absences.

– All this indicates that brief psychotherapy as part of occupational health services is an effective and economically viable form of treatment for mental health challenges. Even a short period of psychotherapy is helpful, as the share of sickness absences in working hours starts to immediately decrease at the beginning of the treatment period. On average, sickness absences decreased by 7.2 days per employee, thanks to therapy, says Jukka Pitkänen, Chief Physician at Terveystalo Occupational Healthcare.

A significant share of sickness absences is due to mental health problems – they are also the main cause of disability retirement in Finland 

Globally, mental disorders have been on the increase for a long time, and in Finland, they are currently the main cause of disability retirement. In addition, a significant share of sickness absences is due to mental disorders. 

– Research shows that it is important to treat mental health challenges at an early stage, not only after symptoms have been prolonged or become chronic. Timely access to treatment has been proven to reduce not only mental health-related sickness absences but also human suffering. Treatment has a positive impact on the well-being of the entire work community as well as on the individual and their family. A parent's mental health always affects children and young people, says Tuija Turunen, Terveystalo's Chief Psychologist and Psychotherapist. 

Brief psychotherapy provided by occupational health services helps ease the nationally congested mental health services and enables treatment in accordance with the Current Care Guidelines within the person’s occupational health services 

In Finland, psychotherapy is typically implemented as long rehabilitative psychotherapy processes that take about 1–3 years and are state-supported through Kela. 

– However, some of the challenges in recent years have included the increase of mental health problems, the scarcity of primary health care resources and the increase in somewhat direct referrals to rehabilitative psychotherapy. With brief psychotherapy provided by occupational health services, we have helped ease the nationally congested mental health services and ensured that Kela's long rehabilitative psychotherapy is provided to people who need long rehabilitation. At the moment, any means to address mental health challenges effectively and quickly are vitally important, says Tuija Turunen. 

The brief psychotherapy model for occupational health, created by Terveystalo in 2017, enables occupational health customers to receive high-quality treatment in accordance with the Current Care Guidelines within the same organization without the immediate need to seek mental health services elsewhere. 

– The brief psychotherapy model has also acted as a trailblazer in bringing together effective treatment, multi-professional occupational health care activities and support for coping at work or returning to work, says Jukka Pitkänen. 

Brief psychotherapy provided by occupational health services: what does it mean? 

• As part of mental health care, Terveystalo launched a model in 2017 where companies who have an occupational healthcare agreement with Terveystalo can offer their employees access to brief psychotherapy. 
• At Terveystalo, brief psychotherapy can be included in the occupational healthcare agreement, for example, or the employer's insurance may cover a treatment period. 
• After identifying the need for treatment, the occupational health physician responsible for the treatment makes a referral for brief psychotherapy, which starts within three weeks of the referral on average. In some cases, an occupational health psychologist can also make a referral in cooperation with the physician in charge of the treatment. 
• The recommended duration of brief psychotherapy is 10–20 appointments. The average duration has been 12 appointments. Brief psychotherapy provided by occupational health services is a goal-oriented and active treatment period which is always carried out by a psychotherapist either in person or as a remote appointment. 
• The effectiveness of the treatment is monitored at the beginning and end of the treatment period using the CORE-OM and BDI questionnaires commonly used in psychotherapy. 
• The occupational health physician remains responsible for the treatment and receives a report from the psychotherapist concerning the treatment. 
• Psychotherapy is a psychological treatment method aimed at the improvement of mental health, working ability and functionality. The main method is discussion with a psychotherapist.