Third of Fit Notes relate to mental health


Over the past two years or so, mental health and behavioural conditions have accounted for a third of all Fit Notes written in England, where the diagnosis was known, according to data from NHS Digital.


Mental health and behavioural conditions were the most common known reason for issuing a Fit Note, the new experimental figures revealed. 


The findings are based on the 5.8 million Fit Notes — with a known diagnosis — issued over a 28-month period.


From the information analysed, almost 1.8 million Fit Notes were issued where the diagnosis was known to be mental health and behavioural conditions. And of episodes for mental health and behavioural 
conditions, around one in five were issued for a period of absence of more than 12 weeks.


There were around 1.1 million Fit Notes known to relate to diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue — the second most common known reason for which a Fit Note was issued.


The number of Fit Notes known to have been written for anxiety and stress-related conditions increased by 14% from 503,000 to 573,000 between 2015-16 and 2016-17


The beginning of 2017 saw the highest number of Fit Notes written, with 556,000 issued during January alone.


http://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB30068