New government data exposes devastating impact on workers across key sectors, with 776,000 suffering work-related mental health conditions and suicide rates in some professions triple the national average
Builders, farmers, police officers and veterinary professionals face suicide rates up to four times higher than the general population, shocking new data from the Office for National Statistics has revealed, as Britain grapples with an escalating workplace mental health emergency affecting nearly 800,000 workers.
The ONS released provisional data on suicides by occupation for 2023/24 on 31 March 2025, exposing the devastating human cost of work-related stress across Britain’s essential industries. The figures paint a stark picture of professions in crisis, with construction workers, agricultural workers, emergency service personnel and healthcare professionals bearing the heaviest burden.
The data reveals that total suicides in England and Wales reached 6,069 in 2023 – the highest level since 1999. Male workers face a particularly acute crisis, with a suicide rate of 17.5 per 100,000, more than three times the rate for women at 5.6 per 100,000.
Construction and building trades top the list of high-risk occupations for male workers, alongside agriculture, police and prison staff, and veterinary professionals. For female workers, nurses, teaching professionals, pharmacists and hospitality workers show elevated suicide rates.
Stress epidemic grips British workplaces
The Health and Safety Executive’s accompanying report reveals the broader mental health crisis engulfing British workplaces. An estimated 776,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2023/24, resulting in 33.7 million working days lost – a staggering toll on both human wellbeing and economic productivity.
The current rate of self-reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety is higher than pre-pandemic levels but has decreased from 910,000 in 2022/23, suggesting a slight improvement whilst remaining at crisis levels.
Sarah Albon, Chief Executive of the HSE, acknowledged the severity of the situation. “This year marks 50 years since the legislation which established HSE was passed,” she said. “Much has been achieved in that time, including a dramatic reduction of around 85% in the numbers of employee fatal injuries in the workplace. Today, Great Britain is one of the safest places in the world to work, but these statistics serve as a reminder that there is still room for further improvement”.
Healthcare sector at breaking point
The NHS workforce faces particularly intense pressure, with 41 per cent of staff reporting feeling unwell due to work-related stress according to the 2024 NHS Staff Survey. The mental health crisis extends across all healthcare roles, from frontline nurses to support staff.
Nearly 56 per cent of NHS staff have gone into work in the last three months despite not feeling well enough to perform their duties, a practice known as presenteeism that further compounds stress and burnout. Among ambulance staff, burnout figures reach nearly 40 per cent.
A senior nurse at a London hospital, who asked to remain anonymous, described the relentless pressure: “Every shift feels like a battle. We’re understaffed, overworked, and watching colleagues break down has become normal. The support just isn’t there when we need it most.”
Human health and social work activities recorded 5,953 stress cases per 100,000 workers, more than double the all-industry average of 2,860 per 100,000. The sector has consistently shown the highest fatality rates alongside public administration and education.
Teachers unable to ‘switch off’ as stress soars
The education sector reveals equally troubling statistics, with 75 per cent of teachers reporting being unable to “switch off” outside work hours according to the Teacher Wellbeing Index 2024. The report, compiled by Education Support from surveys of over 3,000 education professionals, exposes a workforce in crisis.
78 per cent of all education staff report feeling stressed, with the figure rising to 84 per cent among senior leaders. Perhaps most alarmingly, over a third of the education workforce scores below 40 on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, indicating they could be at risk of major depression.
“Disturbingly high rates of stress, anxiety, and burnout continue to affect education staff,” said Sinéad Mc Brearty, Education Support CEO, noting that these issues are “exacerbated by pupil and parent behaviour, and a lack of support for students from public services”.
63 per cent of education staff report experiencing increased challenging behaviour from pupils and students, with 82 per cent saying this negatively affects their mental health and wellbeing. The sector faces what many describe as a perfect storm of pressures, from funding cuts to increased administrative burdens.
Police force buckles under mental health strain
Law enforcement presents another frontline of the mental health crisis. Police officers show significantly elevated suicide rates, whilst research reveals that 14,508 officers were signed off for mental health reasons in 2023/24, representing a 130 per cent increase since 2012/13.
83 per cent of officers report that their mental health impacts their work, according to recent research. The sources of stress are manifold: 61 per cent cite long or irregular work hours, 60 per cent point to understaffing, and 58 per cent identify exposure to traumatic events as major contributors to their mental health struggles.
Prison staff face similarly dire circumstances, with research indicating that approximately 52 per cent show significant PTSD symptoms. “The cumulative effect of dealing with violence, self-harm and suicides takes an enormous toll,” explained a prison officer from HMP Manchester, speaking on condition of anonymity. “You can’t unsee what we witness daily.”
Farming’s ‘hidden epidemic’
Agriculture remains one of Britain’s most psychologically hazardous professions. 62 suicides were registered among farmers in England and Wales in 2023, whilst the sector faces unique pressures from isolation, financial uncertainty and the physical demands of the work.
95 per cent of UK farmers under the age of 40 rank poor mental health as one of the biggest hidden problems facing farmers today, according to the Farm Safety Foundation. The charity’s research reveals a profession under siege from multiple directions – Brexit uncertainty, climate change impacts, and mounting financial pressures.
Recent parliamentary debates have highlighted the crisis, with MPs from across the political spectrum acknowledging the severity of the situation. Members from right across the House have heard stories of farmer suicides in their own constituencies, underlining the widespread nature of the crisis.
Jeremy Clarkson, who has become an unlikely advocate for farming mental health through his television programme, recently spoke about the crisis, stating that more lives are lost through suicide than as a result of fatal farm accidents each year.
Veterinary professionals face ‘perfect storm’
Perhaps no profession faces a more acute mental health crisis than veterinary medicine. Veterinary professionals face suicide risks 3-4 times higher than the general population according to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Recent CDC research confirms that female veterinarians are 2.4 times as likely as the general U.S. population to commit suicide, whilst the rate for male veterinary technicians is five times higher.
The combination of emotional burden, financial pressure, and access to means creates what experts describe as a “perfect storm” of risk factors. Veterinarians often hold the keys to lock boxes where euthanasia drugs are kept, providing ready access to lethal means during moments of crisis.
Dr Sarah Mitchell, a veterinary surgeon from Birmingham who has spoken openly about her own mental health struggles, explained: “We enter this profession to save animals, but often we can’t – whether due to medical limitations or owners’ financial constraints. Performing euthanasia daily whilst struggling with your own mental health creates an unbearable burden.”
Hospitality and pharmacy sectors struggle
The crisis extends beyond traditional high-stress professions. Hospitality workers report a 76 per cent rate of mental health issues according to Hospitality Action’s 2024 survey. The sector faces unique challenges from irregular hours, low pay, and often challenging customer interactions.
Pharmacists have experienced a doubling of stress levels since the pandemic, with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s 2024 survey showing stress levels approximately twice pre-2020 levels. The profession has faced unprecedented pressure from medication shortages, increased workload, and aggressive behaviour from frustrated patients.
Industries with highest stress rates revealed
The HSE data provides detailed breakdowns by sector, revealing stark disparities. Human health and social work activities show 5,953 cases per 100,000 workers, public administration and defence report 5,742 per 100,000, whilst education shows 4,832 per 100,000 – all significantly above the national average.
The UK consistently has one of the lowest rates of fatal injury across Europe, yet mental health injuries tell a different story. A staggering 1.7 million workers are recorded to be suffering from work-related ill health, with stress, anxiety and depression dominating the statistics.
Economic toll reaches £21.6 billion
The financial impact proves equally devastating. The annual cost of workplace injuries and new cases of work-related ill health amounts to an estimated £21.6 billion, with mental health conditions representing the largest component of this burden.
Business leaders increasingly recognise that employee wellbeing directly impacts bottom lines. Small workplaces with fewer than 50 employees had a statistically significantly lower rate of work-related stress at 1,670 per 100,000 workers, suggesting that workplace size and culture play crucial roles.
Government response and union demands
Mental health charities and unions have called for urgent government intervention. The TUC has demanded mandatory stress risk assessments and increased funding for workplace mental health support. Meanwhile, sector-specific organisations like the Royal College of Nursing and the Police Federation push for targeted interventions.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We recognise the enormous pressure on our workforce and are committed to supporting their mental health and wellbeing. We’re investing in staff wellbeing hubs and expanding access to psychological support services.”
However, critics argue current measures fall far short of addressing the scale of the crisis. Dr James Patterson, a workplace psychologist at Manchester University, warned: “We’re seeing a mental health emergency that threatens the very fabric of our essential services. Without immediate, comprehensive intervention, we risk losing an entire generation of skilled professionals.”
Warning signs and seeking help
Mental health experts emphasise the importance of recognising warning signs. Common indicators include persistent fatigue, difficulty concentrating, increased irritability, sleep disturbances, and social withdrawal. Physical symptoms such as headaches, digestive issues and muscle tension often accompany psychological distress.
For those struggling, multiple support services offer confidential help. The Samaritans provide 24/7 support on 116 123, whilst sector-specific helplines include the NHS staff helpline, Education Support’s confidential service for education professionals, and farming charity RABI’s support line.
Workplace mental health specialist Dr Rebecca Thomas stressed: “No job is worth your life. If you’re struggling, please reach out. There’s no shame in seeking help – it’s a sign of strength, not weakness.”
The path forward
Experts call for systemic change rather than placing responsibility solely on individuals. Recommendations include mandatory mental health training for managers, regular wellbeing assessments, adequate staffing levels, and cultural shifts that prioritise worker welfare alongside productivity.
The Parliamentary Health and Social Care Committee continues investigating workplace mental health, with recommendations expected later this year. Meanwhile, individual sectors develop targeted interventions, from peer support programmes in policing to resilience training in healthcare.
As Britain confronts this mental health emergency, the human cost becomes increasingly clear. Behind every statistic lies a personal tragedy – families torn apart, careers destroyed, lives lost. The question remains whether employers, government and society will act decisively enough to stem this tide of workplace suffering.
The crisis demands nothing less than a fundamental reimagining of how we value and protect worker wellbeing. As one NHS consultant put it: “We’ve spent decades making workplaces physically safer. Now we must do the same for mental health – before it’s too late.”
If you’re struggling with your mental health, help is available. Contact Samaritans on 116 123, or text SHOUT to 85258 for 24/7 support. Sector-specific support includes: NHS staff (0800 069 6222), Education Support (08000 562 561), RABI farming helpline (0800 188 4444), and the Vet Helpline (0303 040 2551).
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