Publication type
Report
Authors
Publication date
September 15, 2026
Summary:
The evidence is clear: improving the working lives of people across the UK is not optional. It is critical for protecting the nation’s mental health.
When work is supportive, meaningful and mentally healthy, it can play a powerful role in promoting resilience and improving quality of life.
However, for a rapidly growing number of people in the UK, work is becoming a source of poor mental health – and this burden is not experienced equally. Young people, people with a disability or long-term health condition and lone parents are among those most affected by work that harms their wellbeing.
To understand what needs to change, we analysed data from Understanding Society, the largest study of its kind, which tracked 40,000 households over the past 15 years. We explored the unequal experiences of population groups at risk of workforce exclusion and poor mental health and examined differences between the four UK nations. We also listened directly to people with lived experience and to workplace leaders, building a picture of what inclusive, mentally healthy work should look like.
The evidence presented in this report underscores the urgency of action to make sure work supports good mental health for all. It sets out clear, practical recommendations for policymakers and employers, recognising that if work can contribute to poor mental health, it must also be part of the solution. Implementing these changes will help prevent poor mental health and protect the wellbeing and economic prospects of generations to come.
Subjects
Link
https://reports.mentalhealth.org.uk/foundation-reports/september-2026/report/
#589192
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Report
September 15, 2026