Work-related stress and mental ill-health – why it’s time to act now

Mental ill-health, especially stress-related, is currently the most common cause of long-term sick leave in Sweden. This is shown in the Swedish Social Insurance Agency’s Status Report 2026:1 – Mental ill-health in today’s working life, which was published at the beginning of 2026.

The report shows that stress-related sick leave remains at a high level. Even though the trend has levelled off somewhat compared with previous years, many people are still on long-term sick leave and find it difficult to return to work after a stress-related absence. Mental ill-health therefore remains the biggest cause of long-term absence from working life.

What does the report show? The Social Insurance Agency’s analysis points to several clear connections:

Stress-related mental ill-health accounts for an ever larger share of long-term sickness absence, particularly among women.

In September 2025, women accounted for 79 percent of ongoing sickness cases related to stress-induced mental ill-health.

9 out of 10 people on long-term sick leave with a stress-related psychiatric diagnosis state that their work has contributed to their sick leave, primarily through stress and high workload.

The report also shows that returning to work is often more complex for those who have been on sick leave due to stress-related mental ill-health. The challenge is therefore not only about preventing sick leave, but also about how employers work with support, adjustments and long-term recovery.

The employer’s role is crucial Several factors affect the possibility of returning to work. The work environment, demands, resources and the perceived level of support from the employer play a decisive role. The Social Insurance Agency’s report clearly shows that the right support at the right time can make a big difference.

This indicates that we need a shift in how we view health in working life. From dealing with ill-health once it has already arisen, to working more preventively and systematically. For many organizations, this means a need for new ways of working and better tools to reach more people, track developments over time and create involvement.

Why health efforts must work in everyday life These kinds of challenges require measures that are long-term, inclusive and feasible in a pressured everyday reality. Occasional initiatives or one-off efforts are rarely enough.

At Wellr, we see that organizations are more successful when health efforts:

• are proactive rather than reactive
• provide employees with support in everyday life, not only in times of crisis
• become a natural part of the workplace culture
• and are based on tools that make it easy to follow up, measure and adjust over time

This is not about health promotion in the traditional sense. It is about creating the conditions for sustainable health, where small changes can take root and more people are included in the work on well-being.

A clear signal from working life

The Social Insurance Agency’s status report sends a clear signal to employers in both the private and public sectors. Stress-related mental ill-health is not an individual problem, but a structural challenge that requires joint solutions.

When health is allowed to take its place as a natural part of working life, the opportunities to prevent ill-health, reduce sickness absence and create a more sustainable working life over time also increase.

Read the full report from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency here.