Rising Short-Term Sick Leave Among Young Workers Signals Mental Health Concerns
Stockholm, Sweden – A recent analysis of sick leave data reveals a concerning trend: increasing short-term absences among young workers, particularly young men, are often indicative of underlying mental health struggles. Experts at Feelgood and the Department of Clinical Neuroscience suggest a combination of societal pressures, increased mental vulnerability, and evolving perceptions of illness are contributing factors.
According to Feelgood data, 20 percent of surveyed workers held shift or night jobs, possibly exacerbating stress levels and contributing to higher absence rates among this demographic. Jurgita Naruste, associate professor and researcher at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, notes that young individuals may be “testing a shift job and then it turns out that it is quite so stressful.”
Charlotte Valleskog, chief psychologist at Feelgood, believes the threshold for reporting illness has lowered, and younger generations may lack effective coping mechanisms. “Sadly, young people today seem worse with tools and strategies to take care of their own mental health – and we need to do something about that,” she stated.
Researchers emphasize a complex interplay of heredity and environmental factors in the development of mental illness. Naruste explains that a “hereditary vulnerability…in connection with a stressful habitat around it, cause mental disorders to bloom.”
Notably, men are exhibiting higher rates of short-term sick leave, potentially as a way to manage difficult feelings without actively seeking professional help. Valleskog warns that these seemingly harmless short periods of absence are “often a cry for help.”
Both experts advocate for proactive interventions, including supportive conversations, increased employee engagement, and fostering mentally healthy work environments. simple workplace adjustments, such as offering extra breaks, can also make a significant difference, according to Naruste.”most people want to participate in working life…adaptations in the workplace can make this possible.”
