A presentation at the European social firms (CEFEC) conference in Helsinki on mental Health disabilities and Access to working life

1. 13.9.2018 Mental health disabilities
Mental health disabilities and access to
working life
Kristian Wahlbeck

2. 13.9.2018 Mental health disabilities
Mental health disability constitutes
a growing part of disability burden
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Disability pensions due to mental disorders, Finland
(%)
Finnish Pension Central, 2017

3. Increase in disability pensions due to
mental disorders in Europe
New disability grants due to mental ill-health
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Austria
Belgium
Denm
ark
Finland
G
erm
any
Netherlands
Sweden
UK
%
1995
2000
2005
2008
Data source: OECD
13.9.2018 Mental health disabilities
Share of new disability pensions (%)

4. 13.9.2018 Mental health disabilities

5. 13.9.2018 Mental health disabilities
2004
9,3 2016
15,3
2008
Sick leave allowance due to mental
disorders
18–24 year old / 1 000 18-24 year old
Source: sotkanet.fi

6. Social exclusion of people with mental
disorders and excess mortality
Wahlbeck et al, BJP 2011
13.9.2018 Mental health disabilities

7. Social rehabilitation
Promotion of social abilities
Prevention of social exclusion
Support for social participation

8. Social rehabilitation in mental health
The need for social rehabilitation is high in mental disorders due to stigma
and symptoms
Mental health services are often medically oriented and are not prepared to
offer social rehabilitation (support for daily living activities, participation,
strengthening of social networks)
At worst, clinical practice in mental health services conflicts with aims of
social rehabilitation
Peer support and volunteer suppport are important providers of social
rehabilitation
13.9.2018 Mental health disabilities

9. Social rehabilitation is
based on the person’s needs
-is built on participation
and use of expertise
by experince
-

10. CRPD – Reasonable accomodations
in working life
- Splitting work into smaller parts with the support of
managers and colleagues
- More short breaks during the work day
- Finding alternatives to managerial and customer
relation tasks
- Working in pair or with individual support
- Part-time work
13.9.2018 Mental health disabilities

11. IPS – Individual placement and
support
Evidence-based approach to occupational rehabilitation for
people with mental disorders
More effective than traditional stepped approaches in several
RCTs in various contexts
13.9.2018 Mental health disabilities

12. EU activities
2016: The EU Framework for Action on Mental Health and
Wellbeing
2017: The European Pillar of Social Rights
13.9.2018 Mental health disabilities

13. EU Framework for Action on Mental
Health and Wellbeing
PRINCIPLES
1. Adoption of a public mental health approach, addressing promotion,
prevention and treatment in all stages of life (with a particular emphasis
before adulthood), emphasising early interventions
2. Incorporation of a whole of government, multisectoral approach;
3. Promotion of a human rights-based approach, preventing stigmatisation,
discrimination and social exclusion
4. Develop quality-based, recovery-oriented, socially inclusive and
community-based approaches
5. Empowerment and involvement of patients, families and their
organizations
6. Ensuring that policy and actions are supported by robust research evidence
and knowledge of good practices
13.9.2018 Mental health disabilities

14. 30.9.2015 Sosiaalinen kuntoutus14
Pekka Nikrus/flickr CC
Lapinlahden Lähde – a living lab on social rehabilitation and mental
Health promotion
www.mielenterveysseura.fi/lapinlahti

15. Putting personal recovery first