Transtornos mentais relacionados ao afastamento do trabalho no Brasil de 2006 a 2023

Abstract

Objective: This study analyzed the evolution of Work-Related Mental Disorders (WRMD) notifications in Brazil from 2006 to 2023, considering sociodemographic, occupational, and economic variables. Method: It was an epidemiological, quantitative, and descriptive ecological study that used secondary data from SINAN/DATASUS. The study included WRMD cases recorded between 2006 and 2023, involving economically active individuals aged 14 to 65. The variables analyzed included year, sex, age, race, education, pregnancy, occupation, location, and ICD-10 code. The data were tabulated in LibreOffice and analyzed using descriptive statistics and prevalence calculations based on IBGE population estimates. Results: A 180.66% increase in WRMD notifications was observed during the period. Women accounted for 64.86% of the cases, with 58.2% identified as White. Among the most affected occupations (≥500 notifications; n=8,151), nursing technicians (894 cases) and elementary school teachers (692 cases) stood out. Conclusion: The findings revealed an urgent need to strengthen public occupational mental health policies. The implementation of preventive measures, such as accessible psychological support and flexible schedules, could have significantly reduced absences. Estimates indicated that the country could have saved up to BRL 25 billion annually with more effective strategies to mitigate WRMD impacts.