Silent crisis | Third of 55+ workers taking time off with poor mental health

New research reveals that older workers are suffering from a silent mental health crisis at work, with almost a third (32%) of workers over 55 having taken time off sick with poor mental health in the last year.  With workers aged 50+ now making up a third (33%) of the UK workforce, addressing this issue has never been more urgent.

The study, conducted by leading workplace mental health provider Unmind amongst 2,500 employees across the UK, highlights the need for a rethink in mental health support amid a growing push to bring older people back into the workforce.  

Older workers feel left behind 

While there’s a lot of noise around Gen Z’s mental health at work, older employees say they feel particularly excluded from conversations around mental health, with stigma proving the biggest barrier to them accessing support.  

The research shows that while 32% of workers over 55 have taken time off for poor mental health, this age group was the least likely to be honest about the reason. Almost one in five (18%) prefer to blame the absence on physical health instead, with only 14% giving poor mental health as the reason, compared with 31% of 18-24s.