Mental health leads employer focus on preventative wellbeing support

Mental health has become the most common area of preventative health and wellbeing support offered by UK employers, with 57 per cent providing initiatives designed to help employees manage stress, support their mental health and build resilience.

Research from group risk industry body GRiD found employers are placing greater emphasis on preventing health problems before they affect employees and their ability to work.

Nearly a third (31 per cent) of employers said they prioritise preventative health and wellbeing support, compared with 21 per cent that place greater emphasis on supporting employees once they become ill.

The findings, published ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, suggest prevention is becoming a more established part of workplace health strategies as employers look to intervene earlier rather than waiting until employees require treatment, take time away from work or need more intensive support.

Mental health is currently leading that preventative approach. Some 57 per cent of employers offer support for mental health, stress management and resilience, according to the research.

Half (50 per cent) provide preventative physical health support, including initiatives encouraging healthier behaviours, while 40 per cent offer support for social health through measures such as social activities or volunteering.

Financial wellbeing is less commonly addressed, with 37 per cent of employers offering preventative support such as financial planning and debt consolidation.

Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD, said: “It is really encouraging to see employers prioritising preventative support. Prevention is not only better for the individual, helping people stay well, but it also benefits the business by reducing the impact of ill-health.

“It is also particularly positive to see employers recognising the importance of prevention when it comes to mental health, where early support can make such a difference.”

GRiD said group risk benefits, including employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and critical illness cover, can provide access to preventative services alongside their core financial protection.

These can include employee assistance programmes (EAPs), counselling and specialist mental health support, providing employees with routes to address concerns earlier and develop strategies to manage their health while remaining in work.

However, the research also points to the importance of employers considering mental health as part of a wider workforce wellbeing strategy rather than as a standalone issue.

Financial difficulties, physical health and social wellbeing can all affect an employee’s mental wellbeing, making the gap between the different forms of preventative provision significant for employers considering how effectively their benefits and wellbeing strategies address interconnected health risks.

The figures also raise the question of whether providing support is enough. For employers, the next challenge is ensuring employees know what is available, understand how to access it and feel able to use services before they reach crisis point.

Moxham said: “World Mental Health Day puts mental health firmly in the spotlight, so employers should use the opportunity to remind their people what support is available and, importantly, how to access it. Regular communication is key in turning the support employers provide into support employees actually use.”

The research was carried out by Opinium between 5 and 19 January 2026 among 500 HR decision-makers.