Working life and health: AOK: Mental illnesses drive up sick days

Depression and other mental illnesses are causing ever longer staff absences in Bavarian companies. According to data from AOK Bayern, the largest health insurance company in the Free State, the average number of days missed per 100 members due to mental illnesses rose from 248 to 349 within ten years - an increase of almost 41 percent. The “absence report” was created by the AOK Scientific Institute (WIdO).

In terms of the number of diagnoses, mental illnesses are by no means at the top, with an average of 12.5 sick reports per 100 AOK members. Last year, colds and other respiratory infections were in first place with 77.1 “AU days” per 100 insured people. AU is the usual abbreviation in the healthcare system for incapacity for work or sick leave.

Mental illnesses are long-term

But anyone who is on sick leave due to a mental illness is usually out for a long time: according to health insurance company data, employees are absent for an average of almost 28 days, while for respiratory illnesses it is only 5.3 days. Burnout diagnoses have increased above average, with an increase of 83 percent from 8.8 days lost per 100 AOK members to 16.1 last year.

According to the “Absence Report”, the longest downtimes were due to the diagnosis of “depressive episodes and recurring depressive disorders”, followed by “reactions to severe stress and adjustment disorders”. The latter means that the patients in question cannot cope with drastic negative experiences such as divorce or a death in the family.

However, the number of sick days has fallen

Overall, however, in 2025, AOK insured people were reported sick slightly less frequently than in previous years, with an average of 21.1 days of absence per capita. In the first half of this year, the trend continued with an average of 20.8 AU days. Absences at the AOK are above the annual average values ​​of sick leave recorded by the statistical offices.

According to AOK Bayern CEO Irmgard Stippler, the increase in average absences since 2022 is primarily due to the introduction of electronic sick leave (eAU). Experts assume that many employees did not send the yellow slips of paper that were previously issued in doctors' offices to their health insurance companies.