Introduction to the topic: abstract

The costs of mental ill-health for society are large, reaching 3-4,5% of GDP across a range of selected OECD countries. It was estimated that the major impact is suffered by the employers due to absenteeism and presenteeism (44%), followed by the economy in terms of lost output (39%), the health care systems due to treatment costs (10%), and the social welfare systems due to disability benefit payments (7%). OSH Legislation as well as public health legislation place emphasis on prevention through tackling risk factors and preventing discrimination. However, despite the fact that a common legal framework in the EU exists in relation to mental health in the workplace through the Framework Directive 89/391/EEC which covers all types of risk to workers’ health, there still appears to be limited awareness of this provision both by employers and other stakeholders. In this symposium we will present several European and one Australian data sets, allowing analyses providing insights in drivers and barriers for psychosocial risk management, leading to either policy related advice or more practical sector or organizational level advice supporting psychosocial risk management.