Anxiety and poor mental health continue to dominate calls to employee assistance helplines, according to new data, with one in three calls last year linked to mental wellbeing issues.
Anxiety remained the single biggest category for the fourth consecutive year, accounting for 19% of all calls in 2024, followed by low mood, which made up 11% of calls, an analysis by insurer Zurich Corporate Risk reveals.
Together, these two categories accounted for nearly a third of all helpline demand, revealing what Zurich describes as persistent poor mental health among UK employees.
The latest data adds to growing evidence that psychological wellbeing remains a serious challenge for British employers. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that mental health accounted for nearly 9.8% of all sickness absence in 2024, while previous Zurich research estimated that long-term sick leave caused by mental health problems costs the UK economy around £5.9 billion annually.
While mental health remains the primary driver of helpline use, other pressures are starting to feature more prominently as workers face growing financial, work and caregiving demands.
Redundancy Fears on the Rise
Employment concerns have become a growing source of anxiety for many workers, with calls to Zurich’s helpline about job-related issues increasing 14% year-on-year. This category rose from sixth place in 2023 to fourth place last year.
Worries over redundancy in particular have risen sharply, with call volumes up 39% year-on-year. The data coincides with research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, which recently found that over a third of UK employers plan to reduce headcount this year through redundancies or a slowdown in recruitment.
Zurich noted a significant 118% increase in calls relating to work and office relationship issues, suggesting mounting tension in some workplaces as job insecurity and financial pressure take their toll.
Growing Pressure On Carers
Caring responsibilities are also becoming a more common source of stress for employees. Calls to the helpline about childcare rose by 31% year-on-year, while concerns relating to eldercare increased 41%. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development estimates that childcare costs in the UK amount to 25% of the average income, placing significant financial strain on working parents.
Longer-term demographic trends may further intensify these pressures. The ONS projects that by 2072, 27% of the UK population will be aged over 65, equivalent to 22.1 million people, raising concerns about the increasing demand for eldercare support.
Rise In Neurodiversity-Related Calls
The analysis also found more employees are seeking support around neurodiversity and other diagnosed mental health conditions. Year-on-year, calls relating to neurodiversity increased by 13%, while calls about other diagnosed mental health issues rose by 44%.
Last year, separate Zurich research found that half of neurodivergent adults reported having experienced discrimination by hiring managers or recruiters due to their neurodiversity.
While work-related concerns are prominent, personal relationships continue to play a significant role in employee wellbeing. Calls to the helpline concerning partners rose 16% last year, making it the third most common reason for contacting the service. Family-related calls increased by 4%, with the two categories together accounting for 12% of all calls.
Bereavement and divorce-related calls also featured prominently, though both saw small year-on-year declines.
Employer Support Seen As Critical
“Our data shows that poor mental health is still the main reason employees are calling helplines, with anxiety the number one call category for the fourth year running,” said the head of Group Risk at Zurich UK, Nick Homer. “But we can see that other issues are emerging in response to labour market uncertainty and the rising costs of caring responsibilities.”
He added that “[a]t a time when there are a multitude of issues impacting employees, it’s more important than ever that employers offer proactive and preventative support. Our [Employee Assistance Programme] offers guidance to individuals to help them resolve personal issues, which in turn supports their mental wellbeing and helps them to thrive at work.”
Zurich’s Employee Assistance Programme provides confidential 24/7 support, including expert advice, live chat, video consultations, podcasts, articles and access to specialist organisations via its Wisdom App.
The latest figures highlight how complex the pressures on employees have become, with financial, personal and workplace stressors combining to create ongoing challenges for both wellbeing and productivity.
As organisations continue to navigate labour market pressures, the data suggests that comprehensive wellbeing support, including targeted mental health services, remains essential to help staff manage growing strains both inside and outside work.