Seeing an occupational health psychologist reduces sickness absence due to mental disorders: A quasi-experimental study

Mental health problems are a major public and work-life issue. We examined in quasi-experimental design whether occupational psychologist (OHP) appointment reduces subsequent sickness absence (SA) due to mental disorders among younger Finnish employees. The present study was conducted 18–39-year-old employees of the City Helsinki using register data from Social lnsurance Institution Finland. differences SA days (ICD-10, F-diagnosed allowances) between those treated (at least one OHP for work ability support) comparison group (no appointment) during one-year follow-up. full sample (n = 2286, 84% women) consisted with diagnosed disorder 2008–2017. To account systematic treatment groups, included participants were matched according age, sex, class, education, previous SA, primary care visits psychotropic medication. weighted 1351 participants. In sample, mean 11.4 (95% CI, 6.4–16.5) 238) 20.2 17.0–23.4) (p < 0.01) follow-up year. corresponding figures (11.1, 6.7–15.4) 288) (18.9, 16.7–21.1) 0.01). This suggests that seeing an support disorders.