Umeå universitets logga

In Sweden, mental illness has become the leading cause of sick leave, most often involving so-called common mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress-related conditions.[1] Despite being widespread, these disorders pose particular challenges within the sickness insurance system, especially where medical and legal uncertainties intersect. One reason is that eligibility criteria for sickness benefits (sjukpenning) are built on the assumption that medical, social, and other factors affecting work capacity can be separated and clearly defined. In cases of mental illness, however, such distinctions are rarely straightforward, since causal links and boundaries are often blurred.