£28 billion lost last year due to workplace stress 

Research from AXA UK and Centre for Business and Economic Research (Cebr) shows that the staggering loss of working days because of stress, burnout and general poor mental health, with firms losing 23.3 million working days as a result of these issues.

The AXA Mind Health Study, conducted in collaboration with IPSOS, which surveyed 30,000 people aged 18-74 from 16 European, Asian and American countries, found that 21% of UK adults are in emotional distress, or "struggling", and a 26% have an absence of positive wellbeing, defined in the study as "languishing". 35% were "getting by".

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The report warns that almost half of the UK are currently not in a positive state of mental wellbeing and at risk of burning out.

Almost one in two people (46%) are feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about the future and the UK’s cost-of-living crisis seems to be having a particularly negative impact. 

Women were found to be less likely to have flourishing mind health (16%) compared with their male counterparts (26%).

Lara Fleischer, Acting Head of Unit, Wellbeing Data Insights and Policy Practice, OECD Center on Wellbeing, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunities (WISE) said: “Gender imbalances continue later in life and in other settings, such as the workplace. There is also a huge gender difference in unpaid work,” says Lara. “All this can have an impact on mental health.”

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Meanwhile, tech addiction was found to have a negative impact on mental health outcomes for younger people – those aged between 18 and 24 are more likely to experience loneliness, to have a negative body image and to be worried for the future.

Almost half (48%) of people between the ages of 18-24 currently suffer from a mental health condition, compared to 22% of those over 55.

Dr. Jasmin Wertz, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Edinburgh, said: “There is a difference between how these young digital natives use technology and other age groups. Apps like Instagram and TikTok leave them exposed to ‘airbrushed’ constructions of others’ lives, and there are fears that this can increase body image issues and loneliness. 

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"Elsewhere, doom-scrolling may be potentially dangerous for young people who either don’t have the life experience to put click-bait stories into context – or who know they will bear the brunt of the fallout of climate change stories, for example.”

Claudio Gienal, CEO at AXA UK & Ireland, said: “It’s concerning that so many people are struggling with their mental health in the UK. Our findings show that not only does this have an impact on individuals, it also comes at a huge cost to businesses, the economy and society as a whole. 

"It’s also clear that mental health support in the workplace is linked to better employee experience and retention, so it is vital for organisations to provide this support to benefit from a happier, healthier and more productive workforce."

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