Mental Health and Work: Sweden
Assessment and recommendations
Mental ill-health is a fast-growing problem which costs the Swedish economy more than EUR 7 billion every year through lost productivity, social benefits and healthcare. With mental ill-health accounting for 60% of all new disability claims, it has become the leading cause of labour market exclusion among the working-age population in Sweden; and especially among young people. People with mental disorders are poorly integrated in the labour market. Many of those who are employed struggle in their jobs and those who become unemployed receive inadequate support and have poor chances of reintegrating in the labour market.