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Sick Leave: Stress

Asked by Jim ShannonDemocratic Unionist PartyDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 16 June 2025UIN 57238

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the number of people on long term sick leave due to stress over the last 12 months.

Answered by Alison McGovern

Data is not available for sickness absence specifically due to stress.

The estimated number of people aged 16 to 64 in the UK who had a long-term (4 weeks or more) sickness absence from work due to stress, depression, anxiety and common mental health problems, between January and December 2024 (the latest data available) was 325,000. This represents around 22% of people who had a long-term sickness absence.

Source: Annual Population Survey (APS) - unpublished

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