A leading mental health charity has issued a stark warning that the UK's economic recovery is being critically undermined by a failure to address chronic workplace stress and burnout, particularly among younger employees.
The Alarming Scale of Workplace Stress
New research from Mental Health UK paints a concerning picture of the nation's psychological wellbeing. Their latest Burnout Report, based on a YouGov survey of over 4,500 people including 2,591 workers, found that more than nine in ten (91%) people experienced high or extreme levels of stress in the past year.
The data shows a worrying trend among younger adults. An overwhelming 96% of people aged 25 to 34 reported high or extreme stress, the highest of any group. Meanwhile, those aged 18 to 24 continue to face immense strain, with 93% experiencing significant pressure. Almost two in five (39%) in this youngest bracket took time off due to poor mental health, a rise of 3% from the previous year.
Young Workers Under Pressure
The report highlights a perfect storm of pressures facing young adults. Inside work, factors include high workloads (57%), fear of redundancy (43%), and feeling isolated (45%). Outside of work, money worries (64%) and poor sleep (65%) are rampant, with 60% reporting feelings of isolation in their personal lives.
Brian Dow, Chief Executive of Mental Health UK, stated: "This group is facing pressures both inside and outside work, alongside an uncertain job market where AI is increasingly seen as a threat to some entry-level roles. For many, the social contract that rewarded previous generations for hard work is breaking down."
Despite often being seen as champions for better mental health attitudes, the survey indicates many young people are staying silent about their own stress levels.
A Systemic Failure in Support
The findings reveal significant gaps in workplace support systems. Of those who took time off due to stress, more than a quarter (27%) received no support upon their return, and fewer than one in five (17%) had a formal return-to-work plan.
Furthermore, 18% of workers feel mental health is treated as a mere "tick box exercise", while one in ten say it is not prioritised at all. Mr Dow emphasised that while employers have a vital role, managers often feel unsure about initiating conversations on stress.
The report also, for the first time, examined the impact of menopausal symptoms, finding it a contributing factor for burnout for 68% of women aged 45-54.
The Economic Handbrake
Mr Dow delivered a powerful analogy for policymakers and business leaders, warning that attempting to boost the economy without tackling chronic workplace stress is like "trying to accelerate with the handbrake on". He described burnout as fast becoming one of the UK's most serious shared challenges.
"We all want a thriving economy that benefits employers and workers alike," he said, "but unless we tackle chronic workplace stress and help people perform at their best, we are effectively trying to accelerate with the handbrake on."
The charity is urging organisations to "move faster" in training managers to have early, supportive conversations about mental health and workload. The goal is to prevent stress from escalating into full burnout, which can push valuable staff out of work entirely, harming both individual lives and national productivity.
