Employees Experiencing Poor Mental Health Prone to Taking Risks
Employees experiencing poor mental health are prone to taking more risks, according to findings from a report by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK.
Statistics
The yearly statistics on work-related health issues and workplace accidents provide only a limited view of the broader impact of mental health, as per the HSE report. Analysis conducted by IOSH suggests that instances of poor mental health may have contributed to some of the 60,645 work-related injuries recorded under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) and included in the HSE's summary statistics for Great Britain in 2023.
1.8 Million Workers Suffering From Work-related Health Issues
The HSE's annual statistics indicate that 1.8 million workers reported suffering from work-related health issues in 2022/23, with approximately half of them (an estimated 875,000) citing work-related stress, depression, or anxiety. Although this figure of 2,590 per 100,000 workers is not statistically different from the previous year, according to the HSE, there are indications that the rate of self-reported work-related stress, depression, or anxiety has been on the rise, surpassing pre-coronavirus levels from 2018/19.
Days Lost
The HSE's summary statistics further reveal that 338,000 workers experienced new cases of work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in 2022/23, representing an incidence rate of 1,000 per 100,000 workers. Altogether, it is estimated that 17.1 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression, or anxiety during this period, accounting for 54% of all days lost, as reported by the Labour Force Survey.