12.5 million days lost to depression and anxiety

More than 500,000 people suffering from depression, stress or anxiety were unable to turn up to work in 2017. These are the latest figures from the Labour Force Survey.

The cumulative number of working days missed was over 12.5 million, an increase of over 800,000 from 2016, and the highest number since the economic crash of 2008, when over 13 million days were missed. 

Professions most likely to be impacted included teachers and welfare staff. Reasons cited included workload (44 per cent), lack of managerial support (14 per cent), violence, threats or bullying (13 per cent) and changes at work (8 per cent).

The HSE defines work-related stress as ‘a harmful reaction that people have to undue pressures and demands placed on them at work’.