Work taking toll on mental health, IOSH finds

The organisation revealed the results of a recent LinkedIn poll which asked respondents: “Thinking about your work or working life, how often do you experience challenges with your mental health?”

The poll found that 40 per cent of respondents said they “often” experience mental health challenges linked to work. A further 29 per cent said they experience difficulties “sometimes”, meaning almost seven in ten professionals reported work-related mental health concerns to some degree.

Meanwhile, 26 per cent said they “rarely” experience such challenges, with the remaining respondents preferring not to say.

The findings highlight the continuing importance of supporting wellbeing in the workplace and encouraging open conversations around mental health as organisations seek to create healthier and more supportive working environments.

IOSH says the results highlight how mental health challenges at work are not isolated or occasional issues, but a routine experience for many people across different occupations and sectors. They also underline the importance of recognising mental health as a core occupational safety and health issue, rather than treating it separately or only addressing problems once individuals reach a crisis point.

While access to support services such as employee assistance programmes remains vital, IOSH is emphasising the need for prevention‑led approaches that tackle the root causes of harm. Earlier this year, the institution published its white paper From perks to prevention, which highlighted how workplace health and wellbeing is a business-critical priority. 

Last month, the International Labour Organization published a new global report that showed more than 840,000 people die each year from health conditions linked to psychosocial risks, such as long working hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment. 

Richard Bate, president of IOSH, said: “When two in five professionals tell us they are often experiencing mental health challenges at work, it sends a powerful and sobering message. Mental health at work is not a niche concern or something affecting only a small self-diagnosed minority – it is widespread, real and deeply connected to how work is organised, managed and experienced.

“While support and care are crucial, they are not enough on their own. Prevention must be central to our approach. That means understanding the causation, then addressing the root causes of harm, equipping leaders and managers with the skills and confidence to act early and designing work that supports wellbeing rather than undermines it. Good work should protect people’s mental health, not put it at risk.”

During Mental Health Awareness Week, IOSH is urging employers, policymakers and occupational safety and health professionals to place prevention at the heart of workplace mental health efforts. This includes viewing mental health as an integral part of safe and healthy work, listening to workers’ experiences, and committing to long‑term, sustainable change rather than short‑term or reactive measures.