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.
Mental health-related sick leave has been one of the key concerns in Finnish working life. After a long period of growth, the first signs of a decline appeared in 2024, and in 2025 Terveystalo succeeded in clearly reversing the trend. This information is taken from Terveystalo's Näin Suomi voi* report, which analyzes the sick leave data of all Terveystalo's occupational health customers over several previous years.
– Our data shows that sick leave due to mental health reasons decreased significantly in 2025 compared to the previous year. The decrease was not limited to a specific category of absences, but was evident in all categories of absence duration, except for the longest absences lasting more than 90 days, says Simo Taimela, Chief Epidemiologist at Terveystalo.
The 2025 data shows a clear change in the structure of mental health absences. Absences related to neurotic disorders, such as anxiety, which had been on the rise for a long time, began to decline in all age groups. At the same time, absences related to mood disorders continued their previously begun downward trend. The proportion of people who were absent from work for more than 30 days decreased by 4 percent, which suggests that more and more people received support before the situation became prolonged.
– Although mental health challenges in working life are often discussed from the perspective of young people, our data suggests that the problem actually begins before young people enter the workforce. Our data shows that there are no significant differences in the trend of mental health absences among people in working life between young people and other age groups. The root causes of mental health challenges are more diverse and, in younger age groups, are not solely linked to the demands of working life and the pressures encountered there, Taimela explains.
Although mental health challenges have not disappeared from Finnish working life, the means of supporting them have developed. When problems are addressed early on and work ability is actively supported, the effects are visible both in the well-being of the individual and in the functioning of the entire work community. A work life that supports mental health is an opportunity that increases the well-being of both individuals and communities. ”
Jukka Pitkänen
Photo: Jukka Pitkänen, Chief Physician at Terveystalo Occupational Health
The result: nearly 100,000 healthy working days and savings of €42 million
Developments in 2025 show that mental health-related sick leave can be influenced, but the solution to this complex problem must be found together. By focusing on measures proven to be effective, Terveystalo exceeded the target set at the beginning of the year to reduce mental health-related sick leave among its current customer base. The total reduction was 7 percent.
– The development of mental health absences is not based on any single measure, but is the result of several simultaneous actions. Early identification, timely referral to treatment, and appropriate work- and individual-specific support measures are key ways to prevent absences and reduce their duration. This achievement is not solely due to the success of occupational health services, but is based on close cooperation with our corporate customers and a shared commitment to overcoming the mental health pandemic, says Jukka Pitkänen, Chief Physician at Terveystalo Occupational Health.
* Näin Suomi voi
Terveystalo has analyzed data collected in Finland's largest integrated patient information system on factors affecting the health and well-being of Finns. Every year, the system collects data on the health care visits of several million Finns and the occupational health care of approximately 700,000 working-age Finns from various industries across Finland. The aim of the This is how Finland can analysis is to promote the well-being of Finnish society as a whole by highlighting observations and trends that are significant in terms of public health.
The calculation of the potential savings from absences takes into account changes in the number of Terveystalo's occupational health care customers, resulting in a reduction of 99,042 sick days. The euro amount was calculated using the national estimate of €420 per working day, which includes the direct and indirect costs of sick leave. The total savings thus amount to €41,597,640.
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