Older Women Facing the Highest Mental Health Absence in the UK Workforce
New analysis of national workforce data has revealed a concerning trend: women aged 55 and over are losing more workdays to mental health issues than any other group in the UK. On average, each woman in this age group misses 1.31 days per year due to stress, depression, or anxiety—a rate nearly 70% higher than the national average.
The Mental Health Burden: A Gender and Age Divide
The data, analysed by Man Confidence using Health and Safety Executive statistics, shows that mental health-related absence accounts for 63% of all sick days among women over 55. This is the highest proportion recorded for any age or gender group in the workforce.
Across all age brackets, women are more likely than men to take time off for mental health reasons. Female employees average 0.91 days off per year for stress-related illnesses, compared to just 0.44 days for men. Notably, men over 55 lose only 0.48 days per year to mental health concerns, and just 28% of their sick leave is related to mental health.
Younger Women Still at Risk
While women aged 16–24 take the fewest mental health sick days (0.4 days per year), these absences make up a striking 85% of all their sick leave. This suggests that younger women may be struggling in silence, not taking enough time off to recover from mental health challenges.
The Hidden Struggles of Men
Lower mental health absence rates among men may not reflect better wellbeing. In fact, men face a suicide risk three times higher than women, according to the Office for National Statistics. Experts warn this may indicate that men are less likely to seek help or take time off when they need it, instead pushing through mental health struggles at work.
What Can Employers Do?
With stress, anxiety, and depression now accounting for 55% of all lost workdays in the UK, it’s clear that organisations need to take action. Experts recommend:
Normalising mental health conversations for all ages and genders
Tailoring wellbeing programmes to address the unique needs of older women, including menopause, caring responsibilities, and job insecurity
Creating a supportive, stigma-free culture where employees feel safe to seek help and take time off when needed
Moving Forward
Addressing mental health in the workplace isn’t just about reducing absence—it’s about supporting people at every stage of their careers. By recognising the specific challenges faced by older women and encouraging open, inclusive conversations, employers can foster healthier, more resilient teams for everyone.
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