Mental health is grounded in scientific evidence – and the data behind it is highly insightful. It is widely recognized that mental health is essential for a productive and healthy workplace culture.
At a glance
- Data proves empirically how crucial mental health is for companies – from absenteeism to turnover.
- Statistics on workplace stress and burnout show that psychological strain affects large parts of the workforce, not just a few individuals.
- Sickness-related absences due to mental health conditions have been rising for years, causing substantial costs.
- Motivation, retention, and corporate culture are all measurably linked to mental health.
- The numbers on workplace support reveal a clear gap between what employees need and what companies offer, and an opportunity for those who act.
Mental health statistics make it possible to clearly show just how central this topic is for employees’ well-being and performance.
These statistics provide valuable metrics that are highly relevant for HR leaders. Just as companies regularly review their business targets, understanding employee well-being helps us gain a deeper insight into issues such as burnout, stress, and turnover.
Statistics on workplace stress and burnout
Stress and exhaustion are widespread in the workplace. According to a representative forsa survey commissioned by KKH (2025), 97% of employees report experiencing high levels of tension and stress at least occasionally.
More than half of respondents (55%) say they feel exhausted or burned out when stressed, and every second employee reports that their stress levels have increased over the past one to two years.
For 45% of German employees, work-related stress directly affects their mental health. For more than a third, it has already led to sleep problems (37%) or physical symptoms such as headaches (33%).
At the same time, data from health insurers and research studies confirm this upward trend. According to DAK, mental health conditions moved to third place among the most common causes of sick leave in 2024, overtaking musculoskeletal disorders.
More than a quarter of all full- and part-time employees (26%) were on sick leave at least once in 2024 due to mental health issues – up from 21% the year before.
According to an analysis by KKH, burnout diagnoses accounted for 107.3 days of absence per 1,000 insured employees in 2024, an increase of 33% compared to 2019 (80.7 days).
The cost of stress and burnout: Employees who feel overwhelmed for long periods without support are far more likely to leave their jobs. Replacing a professional can cost between 40% and 200% of their annual salary, depending on the role and level of seniority.
Statistics on sickness-related absenteeism
Mental health is just as important as physical health. While physical complaints are usually addressed without hesitation, topics such as depression, anxiety disorders, or burnout are still often met with silence. For those affected, this means they seek professional help much later – or not at all – which can prolong the course of illness and increase the risk of relapse.
Sick days due to mental health conditions – an overview
- According to the AOK Absenteeism Report, the number of sick days due to mental health issues has increased by 47% over the past ten years.
- 7% of employees insured with DAK has at least one sick leave in 2024 due to a mental health condition.
- Mental health conditions accounted for 342 sick leave days per 100 insured employees in 2024, ranking third among the most common causes of absence, after respiratory illnesses (382) and musculoskeletal disorders (350).
- The number of sick days increased by 6.9% in 2025 compared to the previous year.
- Burnout-related absences rose by 33% over five years, according to KKH – from 80.7 days (2019) to 107.3 days per 1,000 insured employees (2004).
- According to AXA, 26% of full- and part-time employees were on sick leave at least once in the past year due to mental health issues – up from 21% the year before.
The cost of sickness-related absenteeism
The economic impact is significant. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy around 12 billion workdays each year, resulting in productivity losses of approximately one trillion US dollars.
Statistics on employee motivation
Even when employees don’t call in sick and show up to work, mental health challenges can still affect their performance. This phenomenon is known as “presenteeism” and occurs when someone continues working despite psychological or physical complaints. Presenteeism represents a significant cost factor for companies – in the United Kingdom alone, it caused estimated costs of £24 to £28 billion in a single year.
Dissatisfied employees generate 28% less revenue. Over time, this can lead to a 65% decline in share prices and an 18% drop in productivity within companies.
In contrast, employees with good mental health are more engaged and perform better. 63% report being highly productive at work, and 80% say they feel energized.
Statistics on turnover and employee retention
- According to a study published in the European Economic Letters journal, employees experiencing burnout are twice as likely to leave their company within a year compared to colleagues who are not affected.
- One in two full-time employee has already left a job due to mental health reasons. Among Generation Z, this figure rises to 81% and among Millennials to 68%.
- Companies that actively invest in mental health initiatives can reduce their turnover rate by up to 60%. In addition, 85% of job candidates consider such benefits an important factor when choosing an employer.
- According to the Gallup Engagement Index 2024, only 9% of German employees feel highly emotionally connected to their employer – a historic low. 78% are doing only the bare minimum, and 13% have already mentally checked out.
- Gallup estimates the resulting productivity losses in Germany at €113 to €135 billion per year.
- Unhappy employees are almost three times more likely to consider quitting than happy ones (79% vs. 29%)
Statistics on leadership and mental health
Leaders play a crucial role in the well-being of their teams:
- 69% of employees see their manager as the biggest influence on their mental health – even ahead of doctors and therapists. (Automation Next, UKG Workforce Institute, international)
- 78.5% of German mid-sized company leaders recognize a strong link between mental health and employee motivation – yet only one-third of companies have implemented concrete measures so far.
- 70% of employees wish their manager would do more to support their mental health.
- Leaders who lead with empathy and actively support their team’s mental health achieve measurable results: 61% of their employees are considered highly innovative, and 76% are regularly engaged at work.
Statistics on corporate culture
Leaders and employees agree: a strong corporate culture is critical to business success. However, current data shows that many organizations still have significant room for improvement.
- Companies with a strong corporate culture generate four times higher revenue.
- In organizations with a poor corporate culture, turnover rates are 48.8% higher.
- 72% of employees would be willing to trade part of their salary for greater happiness at work – highlighting the importance of culture and purpose in the workplace.
Statistics on supporting mental health in the workplace
The figures so far clearly show how important mental health support is in the workplace. A mental health benefit can deliver a fivefold return on investment (ROI) – and its impact can be measured directly.
The practical effects of such a benefit are reflected in usage data from the nilo platform:
Improvement in well-being
Among users with moderate levels of distress, around half report improvements after using nilo in their mood (50.4%), energy levels (50.5%), sleep (49.8%), and motivation (44.3%). For users with more severe symptoms, the effects are even stronger: 67.4% experience improved mood, 60.9% report more energy, 53.3% sleep better, and 51.5% feel more motivated.
Overall, nilo has a clear positive impact on users’ well-being:
- 96% of users report that their mental health has significantly improved through nilo.
- 82% of users with severe symptoms experience an improvement in their symptoms.
- 71% of users experiencing stress feel better with nilo.
- nilo is used ten times more often than traditional EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs).
Impact on productivity
Even simply engaging with content on the platform increases the likelihood of improved productivity by 15.3% compared to non-users. Employees who also participate in 1:1 sessions see improvement rates of 47.2%, and those who combine both achieve improvements of up to 50.3%
