The Impact of Productivity Loss From Presenteeism and Absenteeism on Mental Health in Japan

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

OBJECTIVE: Mental health issues among employees cause significant productivity losses through presenteeism and absenteeism. This study aimed to quantify productivity losses caused by employees with mental health issues in Japan. METHODS: Participants were recruited to match the Japanese population distribution by gender, age, and region. Mental health status and productivity loss were assessed using self-administered questionnaires. The results were extrapolated to estimate nationwide impact calculated using probabilistic sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: We analyzed 27,507 individuals. Productivity loss due to mental health-related presenteeism was estimated at $46.73 billion, and absenteeism at $1.85 billion, equivalent to 1.1% of Japan's GDP and over seven times the medical costs for mental disorders. Women in their 20s reported more mental health issues than men. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the urgent need for businesses and governments to enhance workplace mental health measures.