Sick Note Culture? Mental Health Days Surge Amid 'Burnout Britain' Fears

Britain is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis as new data reveals a staggering number of workplace absences due to stress, anxiety, and depression.

The survey found nearly one in four (23%) of Brits reported taking multiple mental health days off work in the past year, while more than a third (35%) said their productivity has suffered due to poor mental health.

The data, drawn from a survey, is likely to fuel concern over what is behind the slump in workplace performance in the UK.

According to the research, poor mental health costs UK employers £45 billion annually, with 12.8 million working days lost due to work-related stress, anxiety, or depression. Experts say this not only hampers productivity but also places additional strain on an already stretched healthcare system.

The research carried out by Chrysalis, the UK's largest counsellor training provider, comes as ministers scramble to plug the gaping hole in the economy left by soaring long-term sickness.

The data also highlights what some are calling a "national crisis of resilience" with others arguing society may be pathologising normal emotions - from tiredness and low mood to boredom and frustration - turning everyday stresses into sick leave. There's also evidence that "mental health" has become a catch-all explanation for a variety of grievances - from workload overwhelm to the cost-of-living squeeze. A recent report from mental health charity Mind linked rising stress levels to mounting household debt and insecure housing - suggesting that economic conditions may be fuelling workplace malaise.

The survey also examined the difficulties many face in accessing mental health services, According to Chrysalis, many workers are unable to access the support they need. One in five said they'd even considered quitting their job due to a lack of mental health services and nearly a quarter (23%) of respondents said they had struggled to find local therapy or counselling. Meanwhile, digital therapy options such as online counselling are gaining ground, with 37% of Brits saying they'd consider remote support if it were more accessible.

Regional disparities further compound the issue. Almost half (48%) of respondents from the North-East reported that poor mental health has negatively affected their work performance, compared to only 20% in Wales.

The government's effort to "Get Britain Working" in its recent Pathways to Work Green Paper has outlined plans to reform the benefits and employment support system by assisting sick and disabled individuals in returning to work. However, critics argue that these ambitions may be undermined by the pressures on mental health services and the proposed cuts to disability benefits, which could leave many without the necessary support .

Ross Elliott, CEO of Chrysalis, said: "The government cannot ignore the significant toll recent years have taken on mental health across the country. Lingering effects of the pandemic, ongoing financial pressures, and growing international tensions have combined to leave Britain's wellbeing at concerning levels."

The survey comes as the number of people out of work due to long-term sickness hits a record 2.8 million, according to the Office for National Statistics.

At the same time the NHS mental health budget is set to shrink in real terms in 2025-26, despite rising demand.