Objective To report data concerning the reality of work-related mental diseases (WRMD) in France, their acknowledgment as occupational diseases and some socio-economic data.

Methods Data were collected from the French National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and from the database of the French national occupational surveillance and prevention network (rnv3p). Rnv3p collects data from French Occupational Disease Centers to identify and describe risks and/or emerging work-related diseases.

Results Data from NHIF indicate that the number of requests for acknowledgment of WRMD has increased significantly from 2012 to 2017 (200 to 1500). About 50% are acknowledged and compensated as occupational diseases. Within these affections, the share of depressions is the majority. Durations of work stoppages (more than 400 days on average) were much longer than for other occupational diseases.

Mental disorders related to psychosocial risk factors may also be compensated as work injuries. In 2016, NHIF compensated over 10 000 mental disorders as work injuries, mostly caused by external events or inadequate working conditions. The proportion of people with permanent disability was 4.6%. Finally, the management of WRMD acknowledged will have represented € 230 million for the Work Injuries-Occupational Diseases branch of the NHIF.

Rnv3p data are globally consistent with NHIF concerning compensated occupational mental diseases, highlighting the increase of WRMD in some sectors such as public administration, health and social action, retail business and education. Over 18000 WRMD (33% men, 67% women; mean age=46.0±8.9) were recorded in the database between 2010 and 2016, and 1833 cases of burnout situations currently non acknowledged as occupational diseases by the NHIF. Rnv3p data also illustrate the importance of under-reporting of WRMD as occupational diseases.

Conclusion Then, RNV3P provides important data to assist in the acknowledgment of WRMD and to carry out preventive actions in the sectors and enterprises most concerned.