Psychic absences in Ticino: 51% end up in dismissal (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• 51% of absences due to mental illness in Ticino ends with the termination of the contract
• 51% of AI pension recipients in Ticino have psychiatric reasons, compared to 33% twentyyears ago
• Absenteeism should be considered a symptom, not the problem itself

• Percentage of mental absences that end in the dissolution of the contract: 51%
• Share of AI beneficiaries for psychiatric reasons in Ticino: 51%
• Share twentyyears ago: 33%
• Priority of Swiss disability insurance: professional reintegration

In 51% of cases, an absence from work related to a mental illness ends with the termination of the contract. And still 51% represents today, in Ticino, the share of beneficiaries of an AI pension for psychiatric reasons, compared to 33% just over twentyyears ago. Two numbers that show how mental discomfort has become one of the central issues in the world of work.

The theme was at the center of a conference organized in Mendrisio da Compasso, where it emerged that mental health is less and less a taboo, but where the early recognition of signs of difficulty remains crucial.

"You lose contacts, you lose the habit of working," Marzio Proietti, vice president of Compasso, explains to the RSI Newspaper. For this reason, he stresses, it is important to encourage a gradual return, without putting pressure on the employee and also providing for trial periods.

The Role of Disability Insurance

The logic of

Operational details

Practical analysis: what changes for workers and companies

The two key figures — 51% of contract terminations due to mental health absences and 51% of disability insurance beneficiaries for psychiatric reasons — are no coincidence. They represent a significant increase compared to the 33% recorded twenty years ago, indicating that mental distress is becoming a central issue in the Swiss labor market.

The human and business cost

The cost is not only for those who suffer: we companies risk losing collaborators, experience, and skills. And when an absence is prolonged, the chances of an effective reintegration decrease. This is particularly relevant for cross-border workers, who commute daily between Italy and Switzerland, where every day of absence can compromise the work routine.

For workers with G or B permits, prolonged absenteeism can have direct consequences on access to the LAMal health insurance and disability insurance coverage. Early recognition of signals therefore becomes a systemic issue, not just an individual one.

Risk factors and burnout

The factors that can foster stress conditions up to burnout are varied: lack of recognition and appreciation, a difficult relationship with superiors or colleagues, a non-serene work environment, and the absence of a clear separation between professional and private life. According to Renato Dotti, president of the Forum Gestione Salute in Azienda, leadership is needed that is first and foremost capable of listening to the needs of collaborators.

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Key points

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First day as a cross-border worker? Our practical guide walks you from cantonal registration to your first paycheck.

Source: rsi.ch