Contact:
Julian Mattocks
Phone: +43-1-81140-308
E-Mail: mattocks@pressetext.com
| Pressbox | 
|
London (pte012/08.04.2005/11:00) - Depression and anxiety are now the most common reasons people give for claiming long-term sickness benefits, according to British researchers. As the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk reports, they have overtaken musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain, which used to prompt most such claims, according to the researchers from London's King's College Hospital http://www.kingsch.nhs.uk . They called for more to be done to help people with depression return to work. According to the London-based team, these benefits, available after six months' sickness, cost 13 billion pounds a year. They add an estimated 176 million working days were lost in 2003, up 10 million on the previous year.
According to data from the Department of Work and Pensions, around 35 per cent of people claiming Incapacity Benefit in 2002 had mental or behavioural disorders, compared to 22 per cent with musculoskeletal conditions. Long-term sickness is counted as anything over six months, when people become eligible to claim benefits such as Incapacity Benefit. Illnesses such as depression are treated using medication, although patients often say they would prefer therapies such as psychotherapy or counselling. However, there are long waits for "talking therapies". According to the King's researchers, there are also too few occupational therapists in the UK - just one specialist for every 43,000 workers. They say occupational therapists can help find ways for people to return to work after a long illness.
"Both employers and patients require a speedier response than is currently delivered, as the longer an individual remains off work, the more difficult a return becomes," said the researchers, led by Max Henderson. The researchers highlighted a successful project in Holland, where work-based psychological therapy improved health and reduced absences. "If the government is serious about tackling the consequences of common mental disorders then innovative policies will be required alongside research into the most effective and cost effective methods of delivering service," added the researchers. "This would be a wise investment given the substantial economic and social costs engendered by the current service framework."
(end)
|
|
