Disability due to mental illness: social security benefits in Brazil 2008-2011

This communication aimed to analyze the profile variation of disability benefitsdue to mental disorders. Secondary data published by Brazilian Social Securitybetween 2008 and 2011 were evaluated. Mean annual variation rates over theperiod were calculated for the economically active population, as were thenumber insured, paid out overall sickness benefits and for mental and behavioraldisorders. Mental disorders are the third most common reason for disabilitybenefits. There was an average annual increase of 0.3% in new benefit claims,with a 2.5% fall in mean annual incidence. Work-related disease was identifiedin 6.2% of cases, most of it due to mood disorders. The government should usethe data from the Social Security Institute to support a debate of publicpolicies regarding mental health.