Cost of Mental Health Issues in Swiss Workplaces Estimated at 6.5 Billion Francs Annually

Helsana's survey of individuals aged 18 to 65 highlighted significant concerns regarding sleep. It revealed that 29 percent of respondents sleep less than six hours on working days, while just under a third manage to achieve more than seven hours. The repercussions of this sleep deficit are evident, with approximately 36 percent of participants feeling tired or exhausted frequently, and an additional 44 percent feeling this way sometimes. Forty percent reported that inadequate sleep significantly diminished their resilience.

Among the 800 working participants surveyed, 36 percent reported experiencing strong performance pressure despite insufficient sleep, a situation that predominantly affected women and individuals under 50. Falling asleep proved to be a challenge for 30 percent, encountering difficulties several times a week, while 29 percent experienced nighttime awakenings and struggled to fall back asleep.

The impact of sleep deprivation on cognitive function was emphasized in a study involving 16 Swiss parliamentarians, who averaged about six hours and ten minutes of sleep during parliamentary sessions—50 minutes less than their usual sleep at home. Sleep researcher Björn Rasch explained that sleep deficiency can hinder concentration and decision-making, noting that votes taken late in the evening may result in more instinctive decisions. Although brief naps can enhance focus, parliament buildings lack appropriate facilities for resting.

The financial ramifications extend beyond decreased productivity. Costs for psychotherapy surged by 11 percent from the previous year to 2026, and average absences related to mental health issues last around 150 days. A Swiss analysis indicated that over half of all sick notes due to psychological issues are linked to workplace conflicts.

This phenomenon is not limited to Switzerland. A survey by the ifo Institute and Randstad found that nearly 40 percent of German firms reported increased workloads over the past year, while about 20 percent saw a reduction. Mental strain intensified for over half of the companies surveyed, whereas only 3 percent noted a decline.

The distribution of work also displayed biases, with 85 percent of surveyed managers assigning unattractive additional tasks to the more motivated employees. Research by Bae and Woolley demonstrated that such inequity can erode job satisfaction and heighten turnover intentions, recommending transparent allocation of extra tasks among team members.

Sector-specific stress impacts were also noted, particularly in technology, IT, and media sectors. The UK Health and Safety Executive reported that 550,000 working days were lost to stress in the tech sector over the past three years. Nationally, the 2023/24 reporting period accounted for roughly 16.4 million days lost to stress, depression, and anxiety. Sarah Bush from the University of Florida urged that coping should not rest solely on employees, advocating for clear priorities and protection of recovery time.

In IT and security sectors, constant operations and alert fatigue pose acute risks, suggesting the need for rotating on-call schedules and planned recovery periods. The media industry, too, is urged to improve handling of stress, with networks like Recherche addressing these issues and discussing resilience in forthcoming publications.

For effective change, specialists recommend behavioral strategies such as diaphragmatic breathing and taking five-minute movement breaks every hour to enhance performance and creativity. Research shows that strong social ties can increase survival probability by nearly 50 percent, with long-term studies indicating that a positive outlook on aging correlates with a seven-year increase in lifespan. Psychologists therefore advocate for integrating recovery time and fostering personal relationships, while addressing early warning signs like persistent sleep issues and irritability.