Mental health issues can affect one in four people at some point in their lives. They are a major cause of long-term absence from work. Employers should promote good mental health and provide support for employees who are experiencing mental ill health including anxiety or depression.

This factsheet gives an overview of mental health in the workplace. It provides guidance on supporting employees’ mental health at work, including being alert to early signs of mental ill health and training managers. It emphasises the importance of making helpful adjustments at work and providing specialist help for employees who need it.

Explore our viewpoint on employee health and wellbeing in more detail, along with actions for government and recommendations for employers. See also our practical guidance on supporting mental health at work and our tools page and infographic on health and wellbeing at work.

Contents

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  • Data

    Health and wellbeing

    Compare your health and wellbeing practices with the latest trends, drawn from CIPD 2026 research data.

  • Data

    Work life balance

    Benchmark your employees' perceptions of work life balance against 2026 CIPD research data

  • Factsheet

    The psychological contract

    This factsheet examines what the psychological contract is, why it's important and the strategic implications it has on the employment relationship

    For Members
  • Factsheet

    Induction

    A look at the induction process, and the purpose of inductions for employers and employees

    For Members
  • Factsheet

    Strategic reward and total reward

    Outlines the main characteristics of strategic and total reward, and looks at designing and implementing a reward strategy across the organisation

    For Members
    • Factsheets