Executive summary

Throughout the OECD, mental ill-health is increasingly recognised as a problem for social and labour market policy a problem that is creating significant costs for people, employers and the economy at large by lowering employment, raising unemployment and generating productivity losses. This also applies in Norway which has the highest sickness absence incidence and disability benefit caseload in the OECD despite a traditionally strong work-first approach. In view of Norway’s economic performance as well as the high level of spending on health care and education, mental health-related inequalities seem very high. Norwegian policy makers recognise the need for action to prevent people from dropping out of the labour market with a mental illness and help those with a mental disorder in finding jobs. Accordingly, Norway has established a broad range of policies and reforms to tackle the exclusion of people with mental ill-health. These include a national strategy on work and mental health, developed jointly by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and the integration of the public employment service, the social insurance and parts of the municipal social assistance into a Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), thus offering a strong structure for early intervention and co-ordinated support.