October Health – 2025 Report

Anxiety in United Kingdom

Financial stress and economic insecurity (cost of living, debt, housing costs, and job insecurity) is the leading population-level driver of anxiety and stress in the United Kingdom. What this means for workplaces (short actions): - Financial wellbeing support: debt advice, budgeting tools, and accessible financial planning resources. - Job security and clarity: transparent communication, predictable workloads, and staffing stability. - Accessible mental health resources: employee assistance programs, group sessions, and resilience/stress-management training. October can support these efforts with digital group sessions, assessments, and content focused on coping with financial stress and building resilience. Consider integrating October resources into your wellbeing program if appropriate.

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Anxiety Prevalence
39.36%
Affected people
21,648,000

Impact on the people of United Kingdom

Health effects

  • Physical symptoms: frequent headaches, muscle tension (neck/shoulders), chest tightness or palpitations, dizziness, fatigue.
  • Sleep and energy: insomnia or disturbed sleep, daytime tiredness, low energy.
  • Digestive and bodily systems: nausea, stomach pain, changes in appetite, potential IBS-type symptoms.
  • Immune and overall health: higher susceptibility to infections, slower wound healing.
  • Mental and cognitive: persistent worry, rumination, irritability, trouble concentrating or with memory, occasional panic symptoms.
  • Behaviours: increased caffeine or alcohol use, avoidance behaviours, restlessness.

Personal life effects

  • Relationships: more irritability, conflicts, withdrawal from loved ones, reduced emotional closeness.
  • Work/education: lower productivity, more errors, difficulty meeting deadlines, absenteeism or presenteeism.
  • Daily functioning: disrupted routines, changes in sleep/appetite, reduced physical activity, neglect of self-care.
  • parenting and social life: less patience with children, avoidance of social activities, weaker social support.

Quick support options (UK)

  • NHS IAPT or your GP for talking therapies and assessment.
  • Employer EAP or Occupational Health services for workplace support.
  • October: digital group sessions, assessments, and mental health content (useful for flexible, confidential support).
  • If in immediate crisis: call 999 or Samaritans at 116 123 for 24/7 support.

Impact on the United Kingdom Economy

  • Productivity losses from absenteeism and presenteeism reduce overall output.
  • Higher healthcare and social costs borne by individuals and employers.
  • Reduced labour supply and higher turnover due to burnout.
  • Weaker consumer confidence and spending, plus cautious investment decisions.
  • Impaired decision-making and slower innovation within organisations.
  • Practical steps for UK employers: provide accessible mental health support (e.g., October digital group sessions), manageable workloads, flexible working, manager training, and clear return-to-work processes.

What can government do to assist?

National measures to reduce anxiety and stress

  • Expand universal mental health care within the NHS, ensuring quick access to primary-care–integrated mental health support and early intervention.

  • Strengthen social and economic safety nets: affordable housing, adequate welfare, and measures to ease cost of living.

  • Promote work-life balance: policies for flexible working, paid sick leave, and a right to disconnect.

  • Improve mental health literacy and reduce stigma: school-based programs, public campaigns, and training for frontline workers.

  • Create healthier environments: more green spaces, safer housing, noise and heat mitigation.

  • Expand crisis support and digital access: 24/7 helplines, crisis services, and scalable digital tools; consider partnerships with platforms like October for group sessions and psychoeducation.

  • Monitor, evaluate and protect privacy: collect population-level data to guide policy, with strong privacy protections.

What can businesses do to assist their employees?

  • Normalize mental health and reduce stigma

    • Have leadership model open conversations about mental health.
    • Publish a clear mental health policy and train managers to have supportive, confidential conversations.

  • Manage workload and expectations to reduce anxiety

    • Set realistic deadlines and clear priorities; protect focus time.
    • Minimise after-hours communications and offer flexible working where possible.

  • Improve access to mental health support

    • Provide confidential Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and clear signposting to NHS IAPT services.
    • Consider offering October for digital group sessions, assessments, and mental health content as part of the support mix.

  • Create a psychologically safe workplace

    • Encourage regular breaks and provide quiet, dedicated spaces.
    • Foster a non-judgmental culture where employees can raise concerns without fear of repercussions.

  • Early detection and proactive check-ins

    • Run regular wellbeing pulse surveys and respond quickly to signals.
    • Encourage managers to have brief, compassionate check-ins and set up peer-support or buddy systems.