UK passes eight million mental health sick days during Mental Health Awareness Week 

The UK will pass eight million working days lost to mental ill-health for the year on Thursday 14 May, according to new analysis released during Mental Health Awareness Week. 

Research by Simplyhealth estimates that 8,036,364 working days will have been lost to mental ill-health by the 92nd working day of 2026, underlining the scale of the UK’s workplace mental health challenge. 

The milestone falls during this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, led by the Mental Health Foundation, which is focused on the theme of “action” and encourages employers and individuals to move beyond awareness towards practical support and prevention. 

Mental ill-health remains the leading cause of long-term absence in the UK and the second biggest cause of short-term absence. 

Separate research from Simplyhealth found that nearly one in three employees (30 per cent) experienced depression or anxiety in the previous 12 months, while one in four (25 per cent) reported stress or burnout. 

The findings also suggest younger employees are disproportionately affected. 

Around one in five workers aged 18 to 34 reported taking time off in the past year due to anxiety or depression (20 per cent) or stress and burnout (21 per cent). This compares with seven per cent and four per cent respectively among workers aged 55 and over. 

Dr Macarena Studenmaier Keglevich, head of clinical product and operations at Simplyhealth, said the figures should be viewed as a warning sign for employers and policymakers. 

“Eight million sick days by mid-May isn’t a wellness statistic, it’s a public health signal,” she said. 

“What our data shows this year is stark – nearly a third of employees experienced depression or anxiety in the past 12-months, and younger workers are bearing a disproportionate share of that burden.” 

She added that mental health support must become embedded into workplace culture, rather than treated as a standalone benefit. 

“Building a culture where people feel safe to talk about their mental health before they hit crisis point isn’t a benefit perk,” she said. “It has to be a condition of a functioning workplace.” 

The research comes amid increasing scrutiny of how organisations support employee mental health beyond awareness campaigns alone. 

Alexa Knight, director of policy at the Mental Health Foundation, said employers must take more practical action to create psychologically healthy workplaces. 

“This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is focused on action,” she said. 

“We want to see employers take tangible steps to support their staff; equipping managers with the skills they need to support their teams, and creating environments where employees feel empowered and safe to speak openly about what they need to work well and stay well.” 

The Mental Health Foundation said poor mental health is often linked to demanding workloads, unrealistic expectations, lack of managerial support and excessive working hours, all of which can contribute to stress, burnout and long-term absence. 

The charity is encouraging individuals to take practical steps to support their own mental wellbeing, including improving sleep, spending time outdoors, staying connected socially and making time for movement and creativity. 

The findings also reinforce the growing link between workplace culture, psychological safety and employee health outcomes, as employers face rising pressure to support mental wellbeing while maintaining productivity and retention. 

Earlier this year, Simplyhealth announced a £3m partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health First Aid England and Mental Health Innovations to expand access to preventative mental health support across workplaces and communities. 

The partnership aims to improve early intervention and make mental health support easier to access before employees reach crisis point.