Mental health cannot be ignored in the forthcoming European election campaign, given the scale of the problem.
Mental health is a cornerstone of productive economies and thriving societies. But European workers’ mental wellbeing has taken a worrying turn for the worse. Even before the pandemic, around 84 million individuals in the European Union grappled with mental-health disorders—roughly one in six. Covid-19, post-pandemic economic downturns, environmental crises and geopolitical tensions have only exacerbated these challenges.
A Eurobarometer survey conducted in June 2023 found that nearly half the EU population—46 per cent—had experienced emotional or psychosocial issues, such as depression and anxiety, within the past year. This alarming surge begs the question: are we facing a mental-health ‘pandemic’, and what measures does Europe have in place to tackle it?
Obstacle course for workers
The Eurobarometer study shed light on key factors perceived as crucial for good mental health. Financial security emerged as a significant concern for 53 per cent of respondents. Between 11 and 27 per cent of mental-health disorders were attributed to poor working conditions. Precarious employment, heavy workloads, repetitive tasks, lack of autonomy and ambiguous job roles contribute substantially to employee stress and dissatisfaction. A toxic work culture, rife with bullying, harassment or discrimination, can significantly affect mental wellbeing.
These challenges, compounded by inadequate support and limited resources for mental health care, create an obstacle course for workers. The pandemic only served to magnify these risks, with in spring 2022 44 per cent of workers in the EU (plus Norway and Iceland) reporting heightened stress at work. In a survey across the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Poland last autumn, 38 per cent of workers said they were at high risk of poor mental health. Anxiety topped the list as the most prevalent condition, affecting 17 per cent, followed by sleep disturbances (14 per cent) and depression (12 per cent).
While these aggregate data make clear the correlation between poor working conditions and mental ill-health, specific groups face heightened risk. Those in precarious employment, individuals from marginalised ethnic communities, sexual minorities or displaced populations and those with a history of mental-health concerns are more vulnerable.
A report by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) also underscores the socio-economic disparities involved. Those in occupations at the lower end of the socio-economic hierarchy exhibit heightened exposure to job strain and so increased risk of burnout. Individuals with lower educational attainment, women and younger workers are particularly susceptible to high job strain and its adverse mental-health effects.
Top of the agenda
Despite the pivotal role of mental health in overall wellbeing, only recently has the European Union begun to prioritise it within its agendas and strategies. Last June, the European Commission emphasised the importance of treating mental health with the same gravity as physical health and acknowledged the imperative to address psychosocial risks in the workplace.
Under the banner ‘Protect. Strengthen. Prepare.’, the current Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU has placed mental health in the workplace at the top of its agenda. A high-level conference on mental health and work was held at the end of January. Members of the commission, national ministers and secretaries of state, European social partners and experts in occupational health and safety (OSH) discussed strategies to support workers’ mental health and measures to mitigate psychosocial risks in the workplace.
A recurring proposal to combat the stress epidemic is a European directive on psychosocial risks. Member states which have already adopted such legislation have witnessed a proliferation of organisational measures to tackle work-related stress, which have had a substantial impact on protecting workers’ mental health. Legislation is particularly effective when supported by key stakeholders, including labour inspectorates, social partners and OSH experts. Its very existence—with the obligation to adhere to it—serves as a primary motivator for companies to act to prevent occupational risks. As such, employers themselves acknowledge the need for legislative actions.
Workers’ representatives have thus been vocal advocates of such a directive. The ETUI is spearheading a project focused on the indispensable initial step of elaborating a conceptual framework for work-related psychosocial risks.
Action urgent
The escalating mental-health crisis among European workers demands urgent and decisive action. As we navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving world, prioritising mental wellbeing in the workplace is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity for resilient and sustainable societies.
The time has come for Europe not only to acknowledge the severity of the situation but also to commit to concrete measures, including enactment and implementation of a directive on psychosocial risks. Only through collective effort and unwavering commitment can we pave the way towards healthier, happier and so more productive workplaces for all.
Sonia Nawrocka is a researcher in the health-and-safety unit at the European Trade Union Institute. Her research centres on identifying and analysing psychosocial-risk factors and mental-health crises in the workplace.
