Leading doctors warn over ‘silent mental health pandemic’

Dr Macarena Staudenmaier, head of clinical product and operations at Simplyhealth, said: “Mental ill-health is the top cause of long-term absence (41 per cent) and the second most frequent cause of short-term absence (29 per cent), with stress a major cause of both.

“Our research with CIPD found that the most common causes of stress are heavy workloads (41 per cent), personal health issues (37 per cent) and family and relationships (34 per cent).

“Employers are crucial partners in meeting this challenge.

“Building barrier-free mental health care into employee benefits packages, including timely access to qualified professionals, ensures employees get the right support when they need it.

“This means businesses can pivot to a more preventative approach, supporting employees before problems escalate into crisis or lead to time off work.

“But support isn’t just about services; culture matters too.

“Employers need to create environments where it’s safe to talk about stress and mental health, and where asking for help is encouraged, not stigmatised.

“Line managers play a vital role here and should be supported to recognise early signs of stress, have open conversations, and know when and how to signpost employees to appropriate support.

“Workplace absence costs the economy billions each year, and this is a mounting problem.

“Last year, UK employees were off sick for nearly two full working weeks on average, a significant jump from pre-pandemic levels of 5.8 days.

“To reverse this trend, businesses need the right solutions and support.

“Investing in preventive health benefits creates a healthier, more resilient workforce, with fewer sick days, improved wellbeing, and greater productivity.”