Over five million working days lost to mental ill-health

Latest data has revealed that mental ill-health is now the leading cause of long-term absence in the workplace.

Findings show that the 24^th March 2026 marked the point at which more than five million working days have been lost to mental ill-health in the UK.

This highlights the growing impact of mental health-related conditions, such as anxiety, depression, stress and burnout, on the UK workforce.

Key findings from the research show:

• 30% of employees report experiencing anxiety or depression in the past year
• Those who took sick leave for anxiety or depression took an average of 7.1 days off during this period
• 25% of employees report experiencing stress or burnout in the past year
• Those who took sick leave for stress and burnout took an average of 5.9 days off during this period

Older vs Younger workers

The Simplyhealth research found that there are significant differences between age groups when it comes to responding and managing their mental health.

Interestingly, younger workers are more likely to take time off for mental health issues in short bursts, while older workers tend to take longer periods of absence.

Key findings show:

• Around one in five 18-34-year-old workers report taking time off for anxiety or depression (20%) and stress or burnout (21%) in the past year
• Around one in ten 35-54-year-olds report taking time off for anxiety or depression (13%) and stress or burnout (10%) in the past 12 months

• In total, 18-34-year-olds who took time off in the past year for anxiety and depression took an average of 5.5 days off, while those experiencing stress and burnout took an average of 3.8 days off over the same period of time
• 35-54-year-olds who took time off from anxiety or depression in the last year took an average of 8.3 days off work, while those who took time off for stress and burnout took an average of 8.5 days

Employers should prioritise mental health

Paul Schreier, CEO at Simplyhealth, said, “Poor mental health is having a profound impact on workers of all ages in the UK. We have already seen 5 million working days lost to poor mental health this year, with millions more to come.

“While younger workers are more likely to take time off for mental health, they tend to take shorter periods of leave, whereas older generations take longer but fewer periods of leave when needed. The findings underline how mental health does not have a “one-size-fits-all” solution, with symptoms presenting differently and often in conjunction with other conditions. It’s a reminder for the need to offer a range of support options that are flexible and tailored to employees’ different life stages.

“When organisations effectively prioritise mental health, they don’t just reduce absence rates, but they create a healthier, more resilient workforce. Offering meaningful individual support through employee benefits packages, and encouraging their use, helps to foster an open culture and preventative approach to managing mental ill-health.”

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