Public Sector Workers Take More Mental Health Leave

Public sector workers in the UK are taking mental health sick days at three times the rate of their private sector counterparts, with 12.9% of absences in the public sector attributed to mental health conditions compared to 6.7% in the private sector, according to the Office for National Statistics. The mental health crisis in the public sector is exacerbated by the pandemic, with mental health absences increasing by 6.6% from 2020 to 2022. NHS staff reported a 46.5% rise in mental health sick leave in 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels, while local authorities struggle with financial challenges. Tory MP Helen Whately has called for government action to address this growing issue before it leads to higher benefit costs and lost productivity. Concurrently, a worrying trend among young adults shows a significant increase in reported sickness leave, driven partly by mental health struggles and a lack of interest in work. This evolving landscape of workplace absenteeism highlights the urgent need for mental health interventions across multiple sectors.