A study published by the Mental Health Foundation has revealed that the number of workers in Northern Ireland with poor mental health has risen by an alarming 80,000 – almost doubling – since 2021.
The most recent data found one in five NI workers (20%), or 179,000 people, were experiencing poor mental health in 2024. This is the highest level recorded in the data series, which began in 2009.
The findings are detailed in The Foundation Reports: Employment and mental health inequality, which includes analysis of the Understanding Society longitudinal dataset. This surveys the same 40,000 individuals to track their experiences over the years.
According to analysis by the Mental Health Foundation, a rising number of workers in Northern Ireland say their job is harming their mental health. One in seven workers (14%) or 126,000 thousand people across Northern Ireland now feel stressed or unhappy due to their job most or all of the time. This marks a dramatic increase from 9% of the workforce in 2016/17.
The report links worsening worker mental health in Northern Ireland to growing financial pressures. Historically strong workforce mental health in Northern Ireland has rapidly worsened during the cost-of-living crisis, as incomes have been squeezed – with more than one in three workers now saying they are not satisfied with their income (37%), a sharp rise from one in four (25%) two years earlier.
This income squeeze has led to 8% of workers in Northern Ireland now facing financial hardship – which is closely linked to poor mental health. This is triple the rate recorded in 2020/21.
Northern Ireland’s challenges are compounded by persistently low wages, weak productivity (12% below the UK average) and widespread in-work poverty. Median earnings are among the lowest in the UK, with 17% of workers earning below the real Living Wage and many households in poverty despite being in work.
The report suggests Northern Ireland is at risk of falling into a negative cycle of financial hardship damaging mental health, and poor mental health pushing more people out of work. As the cycle continues, workers will experience further financial hardship and worsening mental health, causing ripple effects across society.
The picture for workers’ wellbeing is looking bleak in Northern Ireland, however, there are actions that can be taken by employers and Stormont that can help the country break this cycle and improve prosperity.
Karen Hall, Head of Northern Ireland at Mental Health Foundation, said:
“Work can and should support good mental health. At its best, it gives us purpose, social connection, financial security and a sense of control over our lives. That’s why it’s so concerning to see so many more workers in Northern Ireland struggling with their mental health than just five years ago.
“But this isn’t inevitable. We know what helps: secure jobs, fair pay, engaged managers, actions to prevent absence and support recovery and workplaces where people feel valued and able to speak openly about their mental health.
“Although keenly felt by many, the last five years shows Northern Ireland’s workforce mental health decline has been at its worst when financial pressures become unbearable. Significantly more needs to be done to support workers and protect their incomes from being decimated by external pressures like rapid rises in inflation. Ahead of the next election, agreeing and implementing the Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill, which will improve job security, pay and conditions, should be a priority for every party running for the Executive.
“The solutions are within reach. The Northern Ireland Executive and employers across the country can take action to prevent mental health problems at work, and create healthier workplaces that support people to thrive, benefiting people, businesses, and the wider economy.”
The report details a series of recommendations for both the Executive and employers to better support employee mental health. This includes strengthening support for people to stay in and return to work while tackling the workplace and financial pressures that can damage mental health or push people out of employment altogether.