The effectiveness and use of rehabilitative psychotherapy in the working-age population in Finland
Objectives
Mental health problems have become the main cause of incapacity for work in Finland. They are the single biggest cause of both long sickness absences and disability pensions.
A key way to address the challenges of mental health is to provide rehabilitative psychotherapy that aims to maintain and improve work ability and functional capacity when they are impaired by mental health problems.
This research project aims to
- examine the effectiveness of statutory rehabilitative psychotherapy in terms of employment, earned income and mental health in the working-age population and
- provide a comprehensive picture of the use of the benefit in the working-age population and the related potential inequalities between population groups.
The main part of the survey is carried out in the form of a register study that uses data from national registers for a population sample of working-age people (33% sample).
Results and impact
The study produces new information on the effectiveness of the use of this important benefit and psychological treatment that supports mental health and work ability.
The project provides a comprehensive picture of the targeting of rehabilitative psychotherapy in the working-age population in Finland.
The results make it possible to assess the benefits and shortcomings of using rehabilitative psychotherapy and to renew the equal mental health support and treatment services in Finland.
Our experts
Ari Väänänen
Project partners
Kela, THL, University of Eastern Finland and University of Toronto
Funding
Kela and Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
