Workplace Absence Statistics Show Mental Health Is Now a Major HR Risk

James Priestley
Jan 29
3 min read

Workplace absence data across the UK reveals a clear pattern. Mental health is now one of the largest contributors to sickness absence, presenteeism, and reduced productivity. For HR leaders, this is no longer an emerging issue. It is a measurable workforce risk driven by poor employee wellbeing.

Recent government data confirms that mental health in the uk accounts for more than half of all work related ill health cases. As absence rates rise, HR teams are under increasing pressure to provide effective hr support that delivers early intervention and measurable outcomes.

The Scale of Mental Health Related Absence in the UK

Government statistics show that stress, anxiety, and depression make up over 50 percent of all work related illness reported by employees.👉 https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/stress.pdf

In the most recent reporting year, 17.1 million working days were lost due to work related stress, anxiety, or depression. This represents a 24 percent increase compared to pre pandemic levels.👉 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/work-related-stress-anxiety-or-depression-statistics-in-great-britain

On average, employees experiencing stress related mental health conditions take over 21 days off work per absence, compared to fewer than 8 days for physical illness. This makes mental health related absence almost three times longer than other sickness absence categories.

For HR teams, these ratios highlight why mental health is now a primary driver of long term absence costs.

The Financial Impact on Employers

UK government analysis estimates that poor workplace mental health costs employers £56 billion per year.

This cost breaks down into:

£24 billion from sickness absence
£28 billion from presenteeism
£4 billion from employee turnover

👉 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thriving-at-work

This means that for every £1 spent on payroll, employers lose approximately £0.08 due to poor mental health outcomes. For HR leaders managing budgets and workforce planning, these figures demonstrate the return on investing in prevention.

Presenteeism The Largest Hidden Risk in HR Data

Presenteeism now accounts for over 50 percent of the total cost of poor mental health at work. Employees may remain at work but operate at reduced capacity, increasing errors and lowering output.

Government guidance shows that presenteeism often occurs weeks or months before sickness absence, making it a clear early warning sign.👉 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-and-work-improving-lives

HR teams tracking absence patterns frequently see that once presenteeism is established, the likelihood of sickness absence increases by more than 60 percent within the following year.

Access to Support Remains a Key Barrier

Despite rising need, access to timely mental health support remains limited. NHS data shows that many individuals wait over 18 weeks for non urgent mental health treatment.👉 https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

Government research confirms that employees without early mental health intervention are twice as likely to take extended sickness absence compared to those who receive timely support.👉 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-at-work

For HR teams, this places increasing responsibility on employers to provide accessible internal support.

Why HR Strategies Are Shifting Towards Prevention

UK policy now actively encourages employers to prioritise mental health prevention rather than reactive absence management.👉 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employer-guidance-on-mental-health

Organisations that invest in early mental health intervention report:

30 to 40 percent reductions in sickness absence
25 percent higher employee engagement scores
Lower turnover rates by up to 20 percent

This data confirms that effective hr support directly influences workforce stability and performance.

Why Vos Help Is Better Then Other Mental Health Apps

Many mental health apps rely on self guided content, delayed appointments, or automated tools. Data shows that engagement with self guided wellbeing apps drops by over 70 percent after the first month.

VÕS help is better then other mental health apps because it removes delay and delivers immediate, human support at the point of need.

Why HR Teams Choose VÕS HELP

VÕS HELP outperforms traditional wellbeing apps because it provides:

Real time access to trained mental health professionals
Early intervention before absence occurs
Higher engagement rates than content based apps
Support for everyday stress, anxiety, and burnout
Clear value for HR teams monitoring absence management and employee wellbeing

By supporting employees early, organisations reduce the likelihood of long term sickness absence by addressing issues before they escalate.

The Data Is Clear for HR Leaders

Mental health now drives a significant proportion of absence, disengagement, and productivity loss across UK workplaces. The ratios and percentages show that prevention delivers better outcomes than reaction.

For HR teams, investing in real time mental health support is no longer optional. It is a strategic decision backed by data.

VÕS HELP gives organisations a measurable, human, and effective way to support mental health before absence becomes unavoidable.