Workplace lessons from the Big Mental Health Report

Workplaces are more than deadlines, meetings and figures. They’re communities made up of people carrying both visible and invisible challenges. Mind’s Big Mental Health Report is a reminder that mental health isn’t just something that happens outside office walls.

The findings highlight how deeply mental health shapes our teams, our culture and our future. From the pressures of insecure work to the stigma that prevents progression, the report shows that the way we design and lead workplaces can either ease the load or add to it.

What the report shows

• Mental health touches every team: 1 in 5 adults in England live with a common mental health problem. It’s likely that in any meeting, project team, or lift journey, someone may be carrying more than you realise.

• Work can help or harm: Insecure contracts, financial stresses and poor housing concerns don’t stay outside the office building – they follow people into work. A job can either add to that weight or help lift it by offering stability, fairness and support.
• Young colleagues are struggling: Nearly 1 in 3 young women aged 17–25 report a probable mental health problem. These people are the next generation of colleagues, leaders and innovators. They need workplaces that don’t just employ them but truly support them.
• Connection matters: 24% of adults feel lonely often or always. In a world of remote and hybrid work, that loneliness can deepen unless organisations actively create spaces for belonging and human connection.
• Stigma is still a challenge: In England, only 25.4% of respondents believed someone with depression would be just as likely to be promoted after repeated absences, compared to 60.1% for diabetes. And the proportion of people willing to work with someone with a mental health problem dropped from 77.4% in 2023 to 74.4% in 2024 (scores are now lower than in 2009).

Why this impacts work

• Retention: When someone feels unsupported at work, their sense of belonging is chipped away. Colleagues who don’t feel safe or valued often leave, taking their skills, creativity and potential with them.
• Productivity: Poor mental health costs UK employers billions annually in lost output. But it doesn’t just show up in numbers; it shows up in the colleague who’s too anxious to contribute in meetings, or the team member who’s exhausted before the day begins. Supporting wellbeing means unlocking energy, focus and innovation.
• Culture: Stigma at work silences people. When colleagues feel they can’t speak up, burnout often follows. A culture of openness and compassion allows people to bring their whole selves to work – and that’s when teams thrive.
• Leadership: Managers set the tone. Compassionate leadership isn’t just about policies; it’s about creating psychological safety, where people know they’ll be heard and supported.

What employers can do

Yes, it’s vital that mental health support is embedded in workplace policies. But the report also reminds us that small, human actions are just as important:

• Normalise conversations: Make mental health part of everyday dialogue, not a secretive topic. Talking openly about mental health reduces stigma and builds trust. How about a team meeting or a team email reminding colleagues that their leaders’ “doors” are always open, and how they can support each other?
• Invest in support: From Employee Assistance Programmes to Mental Health First Aiders, support only works if people know it’s there and feel encouraged to use it.
• Flexibility matters: For someone balancing anxiety, caring responsibilities or recovery, flexible working can be life‑changing. It can reduce stress and improve wellbeing.
• Address systemic issues: Wellness apps and workshops help, but they can’t fix low pay, insecure contracts or exclusionary cultures. Real change means tackling the root causes of stress and inequality at work.

For me, this report is a reminder that there is a story behind every statistic. We have to remember that, not only do mental health issues negatively impact work, but work can also negatively impact a person’s mental health. A colleague who’s anxious about job security. A young employee who feels isolated within an workplace culture. A person juggling deadlines and care responsibilities.

Mental health affects people, who we must not forget are the heart of every organisation. If you’re a leader, HR professional, or colleague, read the report and ask: What can we do differently? Let’s build workplaces where people feel safe, supported and able to thrive.

The Big Mental Health Report is for anyone looking for trusted information about how mental health problems affect people in England and Wales. Read it here.