Mental health-related absences reduced by 45% with brief psychotherapy - significant impact on other absences too
A study by Terveystalo* monitored the impact of brief psychotherapy for occupational health clients on sickness absence in 2019-2024.The study found that the use of brief psychotherapy reduced mental health-related sickness absence by 45% and other sickness absence by 19%. The study follows on from a similar study carried out 2 years ago and reinforces the importance of timely access to treatment for mental health symptoms.
At Terveystalo, the number of mental health diagnoses follows the global trend - it has been increasing for several years. However, despite the increase in the number of diagnoses, the trend in mental health-related absenteeism has not changed in the same proportion, and the increase in absenteeism in occupational health has finally come to a halt. This shows the importance of a well-timed short period of psychotherapy.
– For occupational health clients at Terveystalo, there is a shift in mental health-related absenteeism from long to short periods of absence. Although more and more people are affected by mental health problems, mental symptoms do not become chronic when treatment is started without delay. This reduces sickness absence and thus brings clear savings. According to the latest survey, timely treatment reduced sickness absence by an average of just over 10 days per employee, says Silja Komulainen, Occupational Health at Terveystalo.
Although talking about it is becoming more commonplace, only some of those who need treatment seek help
Studies show that only about 50% of those who would benefit from treatment seek it in time. This is also reflected in a recent survey by Terveystalo, which found that, compared to previous results, more people are already experiencing symptoms that have already progressed to moderate severity. When the future is uncertain, people persevere and stretch the limits of their ability to cope further and further.
– When the mind is depressed, people persevere at work, even if the mind is not fit for work. The work effort can suffer just as much from a home matter that weighs on the mind as the home environment from a work matter. However, the distinction between work-related and home-related mental health challenges is no longer significant, as the list of problems that affect work does not only arise at or from work. The weight on the mind is felt anyway, says Tuija Turunen, senior psychologist and psychotherapist at Terveystalo.
Effectiveness through appropriate treatment
Compared to the previous study, the benefits of brief psychotherapy have increased.
– Since the previous survey, Terveystalo has worked systematically to ensure that our professionals know how to address mental health issues and refer our occupational health clients who benefit from psychotherapy to the most effective treatment according to the Current Care Recommendation as quickly as possible. We have managed to steadily increase our internal referral rate and our goal is that by 2026, 25% of our clients struggling with mild and moderate depression and anxiety disorders will be referred for brief occupational health psychotherapy," says Komulainen.
To keep mental health-related absenteeism on a downward trend, we need more courage to talk about mental health and address challenges early. People are adept at covering up how they feel and pretending that everything is fine.
– To untie the knots of the mind before they get too tight, we need to have the courage to talk about it at a low threshold. Building healthy minds at work requires the contribution of all of us: employers, employees and occupational health," Komulainen adds.
* The survey data consists of brief psychotherapy visits of Terveystalo's occupational health clients in 2019-2024. The survey includes clients who have had an occupational health relationship with Terveystalo throughout the pre-treatment period (3 months), the duration of therapy and the post-therapy follow-up period (6 or 12 months). Thus, 17 920 occupational health clients and a total of 163 539 brief psychotherapy visits were included in the survey. The survey was carried out in accordance with the Data Protection Act (41§) and the data were processed securely without the use of identifiers. The results show a relative 45% reduction in mental health diagnoses, a 19% reduction in other diagnoses and a relative 37% reduction in sick leave for all diagnoses.
Read more occupational health articles
This is how technology is revolutionizing healthcare – “The cost-benefit ratio of occupational health is improving even further”
Artificial intelligence not only streamlines but also improves healthcare. It identifies risks and speeds up access to doctors, according to Terveystalo’s digital experts.
Digital trends in healthcare 2026: The ability to leverage artificial intelligence comprehensively will become a key success factor
The accelerating development of technology and artificial intelligence doesn’t just mean new innovations in healthcare; it forces us to rethink the entire operating logic of the sector, says Ilari Richardt, Head of Digital Services at Terveystalo.
Healthy Work Life Barometer 2026: Growing workload poses a challenge to the workplace; the solution lies in a sense of community
The Healthy Working Life Barometer 2026* reveals that 48% of business decision-makers consider the Finnish working life to be healthy. This is an encouraging turn for the better, as it represents a 5-percentage-point increase from the previous year. At the same time, the barometer reveals a new normal in the workplace: as many as 80% of respondents feel that the Finnish workplace is more fast-paced and stressful than ever before.
Healthy Work Life Barometer 2026: A positive trend in health, but a growing gap in views on humanity between top management and other employees
The Healthy Working Life Barometer 2026* reveals that 48% of business decision-makers consider the Finnish working life to be healthy. This marks an encouraging shift for the better, as it represents a 5-percentage-point increase from the previous year. Although the overall picture of workplace health has improved, experiences regarding management’s proactiveness and the humanity of everyday work vary, so polarization between roles is on the rise.
Occupational health Therapies at the Forefront – operating model reformed mental health support for staff in Oulu
Mental health and behavioral disorders were a cause for concern in the city of Oulu. Sick leave was on the rise, and the phenomenon was evident not only in statistics but also in the everyday life of work communities. When the Therapies to the Forefront operating model became available for occupational health services, Oulu seized the opportunity. The goal was to build a completely new way of thinking about mental health support and to provide tools for every employee to promote their own well-being and coping. The achievements of the first six months show that the solution was the right one: a 10% decrease in mental health absences is the result of a comprehensive cultural change.
Terveystalo succeeded in its ambitious goal of reducing mental health-related absences: savings amounted to approximately 100,000 working days and EUR 42 million.
At the beginning of 2025, Terveystalo committed to achieving a significant reduction in mental health-related sick leave among its occupational health customers. Focusing on the prevention of mental health disorders and rapid, effective treatment yielded results that exceeded the target. Mental health-related sick leave fell by 7%, which resulted in a total of approximately 100,000 additional healthy working days and savings of nearly EUR 42 million for occupational health customer companies.