The Hidden Cost of Workplace Mental Health Struggles

It often starts quietly. Someone begins to feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply worn down by the daily pressures of work. They might stop speaking up in meetings, miss deadlines, or withdraw from their team. At first, it might seem like a rough patch – but over time, the thought settles in: What if I just left work altogether?

This is the reality for more people than you might think.

According to research by PwC, 1 in 10 workers is actively considering stepping away from work completely – not just changing jobs, but leaving the workforce for good. 

Mental health is the key driver 

For many, this decision is linked to mental health.

Younger workers, especially those aged 18–24, are 40% more likely to cite mental health as their reason for wanting to stop working than their older colleagues. 

This is not just a personal or social issue – it’s a growing problem for businesses too. 

The business impact of mental health 

 When staff leave due to mental health reasons, it has serious consequences for organisations: 

• 81% of employers say productivity has taken a hit  (PwC, 2025)

• 79% have lost valuable talent (PwC, 2025)

• 77% struggle to find people with the right skills (PwC, 2025)

• 83% are facing financial pressures due to staff turnover and recruitment costs (PwC, 2025)

It’s clear that poor mental health doesn’t just affect individuals – it directly affects business performance. 

There’s time to act – if we act early 

One of the most important findings in the report is that people rarely leave work on a whim. 

• Around 1 in 3 people who left had thought about it for more than six months (PwC, 2025)

• Nearly half didn’t speak to anyone at work before making the decision (PwC, 2025)

That means there’s a real opportunity for early intervention. And it could make all the difference. 

In fact, 61% of those who left said the right support could have helped them stay.

Why current workplace support often falls short 

Many businesses offer health or wellbeing support – but it’s not always reaching the people who need it: 

• Typical engagement rates of EAPs (Employee Assistance Programmes) are as low as 3–5%

• 45% of employees who spoke up before leaving said they weren’t offered any support

• Smaller businesses often struggle to provide the same level of support as larger firms

In short, the systems in place aren’t working well enough – and too many people are slipping through the cracks. 

Workplace mental health support needs to change 

There are a number of steps employers can take to improve workplace mental health support and keep more people well and working: 

1. Spot the signs earlier

Many employers don’t know someone is struggling until they hand in their notice. Training managers to recognise early warning signs can help start honest conversations sooner. 

2. Make support easier to access

Employees often avoid using support due to embarrassment, fear of judgement, or not knowing what’s available. And when support is overly complex to access, inflexible, or limited, people are less likely to engage with it.  

3. Rethink workplace culture

Workplaces need to better connect mental health with team dynamics, confidence, and professional development. A healthier culture helps everyone. 

4. Use expert help

Generic well-being offers often miss the mark. Access to professional, tailored workplace counselling is more effective and builds trust – especially in more complex cases. 

5. Normalise asking for help

We need to make mental health part of everyday conversations at work – not something people only bring up in a crisis. 

The business case for better support 

The economic benefits of supporting mental health at work are clear: 

• Every £1 spent on workplace mental health support returns around £4.70 in productivity gains  (Deloitte, 2025)
• 70 million workdays are lost each year to mental health issues  (Deloitte, 2025)
• Poor mental health costs UK employers between £41–56 billion every year  (Deloitte, 2025)

Investing in mental health isn’t a luxury – it’s essential to keeping your team engaged, focused, and productive. 

How we can help 

At Now You’re Talking, we provide flexible, professional workplace counselling that works for businesses of all sizes. There are: 

• No waiting lists

• No complex systems

• No wasted spend

Our tiered membership options mean your team can access expert support when they need it, and you only pay for what they use.