[Occupational mental well-being--utopia or necessity?]

Abstract

The remarkable social-medical and economical importance of psychic and psychosomatic diseases is empasised by broad public discussions. According to recent epidemiological findings, these kinds of health disorders are not only more frequent than assumed formerly, but they also have severe social consequences. Contrary to the trend of a lowering level of the ill population, during the last decade psychic diseases were leading with all legal health insurance companies to a rising trend in days of inability to work, which now seems to consolidate at a high level. In addition to this, nearly e very third premature loss of occupation induced by illnesses - far before having reached the regular age limit - with legally pension-insured persons is based on psychic diseases. With civil servants, each second premature service inability has its roots in such a kind of suffering. At present, the reasons for this development are being discussed controversially. Psychosocial loads of the globalised, market-focused working sphere are regarded in this context as (sole) causing or at least as manifestation-promoting factors. The present article illuminates selected aspects of psychosomatic diseases concerning public health and the importance of work-associated psychosocial loads under consideration of the background of changes in society and working sphere. According to broad consent the setting "job" implies an enormous potential of prevention of psychic diseases, therefore, we will finally point out action options for an operational, psychosocial health promotion, which do not only focus on aspects of competition.