UK hits eight million mental ill-health sick days in 2026

During this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, the UK will hit eight million working days lost to mental ill-health so far in 2026.

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

Research by Simplyhealth conducted this year found that nearly a third (30 per cent) of employees reported experiencing depression or anxiety in the previous 12 months, with a further one in four (25 per cent) reporting stress or burnout.

Of those who went on to take sick leave for anxiety or depression, an average of 7.1 days was taken, while those with stress and burnout took 5.9 days.

Dr Macarena Staudenmaier, head of clinical product and operations at Simplyhealth, said: “Eight million sick days by mid-May isn’t a wellness statistic, it’s a public health signal.

“As a clinician, what strikes me is that mental health isn’t something that happens to people in isolated moments, it’s built or eroded through the everyday.

“Sleep, connection, time outdoors, being able to say ‘I’m not OK’ without fear of professional consequences – these aren’t nice-to-haves.

“Consistent habits protect mental health far more effectively than crisis-point intervention.

“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.

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

“And when employers do invest in mental health support, access to it must be barrier-free and simple. That means being clear and specific about what’s available, not burying it in an online benefits portal, and making sure no-one has to navigate a complicated referral process when they are already struggling.”