The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its latest ill health and injury statistics. Their report shows there are almost 1 million UK workers currently suffering with work-related mental health issues. The HSE found that 914,000 UK workers were suffering with work related mental health conditions including stress, depression or anxiety. Across the UK the impacts of these conditions amount to 17 million working days lost due to work-related mental health issues.
Notably in their report the HSE illustrate that mental health related conditions are now the number one cause of absence from work in the UK. These conditions have over-taken work-related musculoskeletal disorders as being the top cause of absence in Great Britain, which the HSE report shows as being 477,000 UK workers suffering with musculoskeletal issues.
The most affected industries by work related mental health illnesses were found to be: public administration and defence, human health and social work, and education. The HSE has warned of a growing crisis of poor mental health at work, and has reminded employers of their responsibilities for their employees wellbeing and mental health as well as their physical health. The pandemic has been found to be a major contributory factor towards work-related stress, depression and anxiety with current rates exceeding pre-coronavirus levels in 2018/19.
The HSE has a number of stress and mental health at work resources available for businesses to download on their website: Stress and mental health at work – HSE
For further advice on what businesses should be doing to promote, support, adjust and manage mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, please see our previous mental health related articles:
- Managing stress in the workplace – Stress Awareness Month – Do you Have a Stress Policy in Place? | Nockolds
- Managing anxiety at work – Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 – A Guide For Employers | Nockolds
- Mental health awareness and loneliness – Mental Health Awareness Week – This Years’ Focus is on ‘Loneliness’ | Nockolds
- ACAS guidance on mental health adjustments – ACAS Releases New Guidance on Reasonable Adjustments for Mental Health in the Workplace | Nockolds
Read more about the latest HSE illness and injury statistics here: Health and safety statistics 2022 (hse.gov.uk)
If you would like to chat to one of our consultants about your employees mental health and wellbeing, please contact Nockolds HR on 0345 646 0406 or email enquiries@nockoldshr.co.uk