HSE has published its annual statistics on work-related ill-health and workplace injuries for 2024/25. Approximately 1.9 million workers suffered work-related ill-health. Of those reported cases, over half (52%) related to stress, depression or anxiety. That was 940,000 workers suffering from work-related stress, depression and anxiety (new or long-standing) in 2024/25.
Source: HSE Health and Safety at Work Summary statistics for Great Britain 2025
With these figures, it is little wonder that the HSE’s strategy includes (indeed opens with) an ambitious objective of reducing work-related ill health, with a specific focus on mental health and stress. The business plan for 2025-2026 includes reduction of stress as a primary focus. The way in which HSE anticipate managing this aim circles around six pillars: research, raising awareness, empowerment, setting standards and, of course… deterrence and enforcement.
Those of us working in the defence of these matters have long been aware of HSE’s increased interest in enforcement activity around stress and mental health breaches, although we are yet to see a prosecution in which mental health is the sole complaint. . In 2025, HSE confirmed that it was actively investigating suspected organisational failures into managing mental health risks. It has made it known that it is investigating cases where there is evidence of a wider organisational failing, such as where several employees have reported experiencing work-related ill-health. Practically speaking, this means that larger organisations are more likely to be at risk of enforcement action, although the net is bound to widen.
Key takeaway: employers should be reviewing the HSE Management Standards and using them to implement policies and procedures. Employers have a duty to ensure the mental health of workers, so far as is reasonably practicable. The bar is high, and it won’t be long before enforcement action for mental health cases becomes the norm.
The figures and analysis can be viewed in full here.
Mental health conditions remain the primary driver of work-related ill health, with 964,000 workers reporting stress, depression or anxiety caused or made worse by work in 2024/25. This is in line with the upward trend in recent years.
https://press.hse.gov.uk/2025/11/20/hse-publishes-annual-workplace-health-and-safety-statistics/