'Vital role to play' | Employers call for clearer guidance as staff mental health pressures mount

Almost nine in 10 (88%) employers believe their organisation is expected to do more than ever to help employees experiencing poor mental health stay in work, according to new research from Mental Health First Aid England.

The findings come as the Government begins implementing recommendations from the Keep Britain Working Review. The review identifies ill health across all conditions as the most significant driver of economic inactivity in the UK and estimates it costs employers £85 billion a year.

The latest update from the review in September 2026 calls for a fundamental shift towards earlier intervention, helping people to remain healthy and in work.

However, MHFA England’s research suggests employers need greater support to make this a reality. In the past 12 months, a third (33%) of employers surveyed have seen an employee take long-term sickness absence due to poor mental health, and a quarter (25%) have seen an employee leave.