Workplace mental health is under more pressure than ever. While more organisations are taking proactive steps to support wellbeing, poor mental health is still rising.
Almost 15% of working-age adults now report having a long-term mental health condition (1); more than a five per cent increase over the past decade.
It’s clear that mental health support is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s business-critical. These workplace mental health statistics for 2026 highlight the pressures employees are facing, and the opportunities organisations have to strengthen wellbeing.
The financial cost of ill mental health
Mental health is now the leading cause of long-term absence and a major driver of short-term absence across many organisations(2):
- Average sickness absence has risen to 9.4 days per employee per year, the highest level in more than a decade (2)
- Stress, depression and anxiety caused 22.1 million lost days last year, with nearly 23 days off work on average (3)
- Presenteeism, being at work but not well enough to perform, costs employers two to three times more than sickness absence, while unplanned absences can account for up to 8% of annual payroll (4)
The role of managers
Managers are key in shaping workplace wellbeing; Nearly 70% of employees say their manager affects their mental health as much as their partner (5), more than doctors (51%) or therapists (41%).
However, many are struggling with the pressures of people management, with many not receiving the help they need (6):
- Nationwide, only 38% of organisation leaders in the UK talk openly about mental health
- Only 45% of managers have been trained to have mental health conversations, reflected in a lack of employee confidence, with just 51% of employees believe their manager is equipped to offer support
- Managers’ confidence in supporting team members rose by 53% after receiving training on how to hold mental health conversations
- Employee desire to quit fell from 35% to 18% when managers were trained to have supportive conversations
Help your managers feel confident supporting their teams
Rising stress levels, especially among younger workers
Stress is increasing across the workforce, and younger employees are experiencing the greatest risk of burnout:
- Nine out of ten adults experienced high or extreme pressure or stress in the past year (7)
- One in five workers needed time off because of stress-related mental health concerns (7)
- Young adults aged 18–24 were most likely to take time off due to stress, and report pressure from unpaid overtime, heavy workloads, financial strain, and isolation (7)
- Only 10% of employees feel engaged at work, while 41% experience high stress during the day, and 26% regularly feel significant sadness (8)
Psychological safety at work
People do their best work when they feel psychologically safe and truly seen, heard, and valued. However (9):
- There has been a 25% decline in people who feel able to bring their whole self to work over the past five years
- Although more than eight out of ten employees say this matters to them, only 31% feel they can do so in practice
This is particularly true for those with protected characteristics (9):
- 54% of Black employees say not being able to be themselves affects their productivity
- 51% of LGBTQIA+ people say it impacts their mental health
- Neurodiverse employees report lower psychological safety, feeling less able to be themselves and more affected in their mental health
- Only 1 in 4 people with mental ill health feel able to be their whole self at work
How can businesses build mentally healthy workplaces?
Creating a mentally healthy workplace starts with meaningful support and a culture of openness. When people feel safe, heard, and confident to speak openly about mental health, trust grows and stigma is reduced.
This is where MHFAiders make a real difference—providing visible, approachable support that strengthens wellbeing, fosters connection, and creates lasting benefits for individuals, teams, and the organisation as a whole.
MHFAiders® are transforming how we talk about and support mental health at work, creating a positive ripple effect across teams and organisations (10):
- 92% of people agree that MHFAiders contribute to healthier, more productive workplaces
- Almost 90% of MHFAiders say they’re saving lives
- 1 in 2 use their skills weekly, in and outside of work
- 83% agree MHFAiders help support their organisation’s mental health
- Almost all MHFAiders (96%) say they plan to refresh their skills
- Workplaces that prioritise psychological health are six times more likely to retain their people and five times more likely to have strong advocates (11)
Our Mental Health First Aid training sets the national standard, boosting engagement, retention, and economic value, with employers receiving £4.70 back for every £1 spent on supporting their people’s mental health (12).
Suitable for anyone in your organisation, at any level, the training equips learners with:
- Skills to spot early warning signs of poor mental health
- Confidence to start a supportive conversation
- Tools to signpost people to appropriate help
Strengthen your workplace mental health approach
However, Mental Health First Aid isn’t just about a course. Going beyond the initial training, we’re the only organisation who offer an enhanced MHFA® support package, helping you to:
- Sustain engagement and confidence among MHFAiders
- Strengthen psychological safety and employee wellbeing
- Embed mental health into policy, planning, and culture
Explore strategic support for your MHFAiders
Sources:
- Imperial College London. Mental ill-health a barrier to work, new report finds. Available from: imperial.ac.uk/news/268633/mental-ill-health-barrier-work-report-finds/ [November 2025]
- CIPD. Workplace absence levels soar to nearly two working weeks per employee each year. Available from:cipd.org/uk/about/press-releases/workplace-absence-soars-nearly-two-working-weeks-each-year [November 2025]
- HSE. Working days lost in Great Britain. Available from: hse.gov.uk/statistics/dayslost.htm [November 2025]
- iFeel. The Silent Profit Drain: Workplace Mental Health Report 2025. Available from: ifeelonline.com/resources-for-companies/the-silent-profit-drain-whitepaper-2025/ [November 2025]
- UKG. Managers Impact Our Mental Health More Than Doctors, Therapists — and Same as Spouses. Available from: ukg.co.uk/about-us/newsroom/workforce-institute-managers-impact-mental-health. [November 2025]
- Mind Forward Alliance. Study Report: A Global Picture of Mental Health in the Workplace. Available from: mindforwardalliance.com/Resources/Global-Research-Study-Report#doc-1199 [November 2025]
- Mental Health UK. The Burnout Report 2025. Available from: mentalhealth-uk.org/blog/burnout-report-2025-reveals-generational-divide-in-levels-of-stress-and-work-absence/ [November 2025]
- Gallup. State of the Global Workplace 2025. Available from: gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx [November 2025]
- MHFA England. My Whole Self research: No time to roll back on EDI as bias persists. Available from: mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/news/My-Whole-Self-research-No-time-to-roll-back-on-EDI-as-bias-persists [November 2025]
- MHFA England. The MHFAider Effect. Available from: mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/news/first-national-mhfader-day-celebrates-the-people-changing-and-saving-lives/ [November 2025]
- Great Places to Work. Psychological Health at Work: Key Drivers and How UK’s Best Workplaces™ Lead the Way. Available from: greatplacetowork.co.uk/resources/psychological-health-at-work-key-drivers [November 2025]
- Deloitte. Mental health and employers: refreshing the case for investment. Available from: deloitte.com/uk/en/services/consulting/research/mental-health-and-employers-refreshing-the-case-for-investment [November 2025]
- Deloitte. Poor mental health costs UK employers £51 billion a year for employees. Available from: deloitte.com/uk/en/about/press-room/poor-mental-health-costs-uk-employers-51-billion-a-year-foremployee [December 2025]
