Mental Wealth Index 2026
Britain's workforce is coping, but has very little in reserve.
Our Mental Wealth Index survey with YouGov measures how full-time workers are doing across mind, body, work and money, and whether they know where to turn for help. Fewer than one in five employees have ever used the support available to them at work.
What's in the report?
- Headline figuresA workforce with little room to spare
- Key findingsSix findings that define the year.
- What it means for employersAvailable isn't the same as used.
- Download the reportGet the full Mental Wealth Index 2026
Headline figures
A workforce with little room to spare
The Index doesn't show a workforce in crisis. It shows one managing significant pressure, often unsure what support is available.
38%
sit on the anxious end of the scale
47.5%
sleep six hours a night or less
18.5%
have ever actually used it
Key findings
Six findings that define the year.
Pressure is felt across mind, body, work and money, but the support meant to meet it is patchy, unequal and largely reactive.
Pressure is widespread
Close to four in ten workers are on the anxious end of the scale, more than two in five feel mentally drained most of the time, and nearly half are short on sleep.
It changes with age
Money worries and burnout weigh heaviest on younger employees, while sleep loss increases with age. Nearly half of men in their late twenties and thirties are uncomfortable talking to their manager about mental health.
Women carry more
Women are around 40% more likely than men to feel constantly mentally drained. Women aged 45 to 54 are the most anxious group in the workforce.
Need and support don't match
The North and Wales are under the most pressure, and these areas also tend to have the least support.
Access is unequal
53% of higher-paid workers know they can get help at work, compared with 37% of lower-paid workers.
Support is reactive
Signs of pressure appear long before someone calls a helpline, giving employers a clear opportunity to act earlier.
What it means
Available isn't the same as used.
Most staff have support available, but fewer than one in five use it. The biggest gains come from making help visible, reaching people early and measuring who it reaches.
Start with awareness, not spend
Making help visible and easy to reach is worth more than adding another benefit.
Target the groups most in need
A one-size offer is less likely to reach mid-career women, under-35s and lower-paid staff in higher-pressure regions.
Shift from reactive to preventative
The biggest return comes from reaching people early, rather than waiting for the phone to ring.
How Wisdom can help
Wisdom Super Care was built for this shift: preventative support that reaches people before pressure becomes a crisis.
Download the full report
Get the full Mental Wealth Index 2026
The full report includes detailed findings and practical steps for employers to close the gap between support that's available and support that's used.
What's in the report
- Findings by age, gender, region and pay
- Where pressure is highest, and where support is lowest
- What employers can do to reach people earlier
- How to measure reach and equity across your workforce
Download for free, today
Download the reportGet access to the full report. Simply click the link below to download.
What Wisdom Wellbeing Offers
The complete wellbeing ecosystem, for any business
Wisdom Wellbeing's Super Care Service brings every stage together in one solution, for organisations that want to move from reactive to preventative support. It was designed to close the gap between support that's available and support that's used.
Includes everything in our Comprehensive Mental Health & Wellbeing Support, plus:
- Up to 12 sessions of structured counselling
- Virtual GP service - provided by KRY
- Active Care: Day 1 intervention for stress related absence
- Mental Health First Aid training(England only)
From £2.25* per employee per month.
*Prices exclude VAT. Based on 100+ employees over a 60-month term. Your price depends on headcount, contract length and the support you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Let's talk about your people
Whether you're reviewing your current provider, planning a tender or starting from scratch, a Wellbeing Specialist can help you understand what your workforce needs and how we can support it.