October Health – 2025 Report

Chronic illness in United Kingdom

Financial insecurity (low income, debt, and high housing costs) is the leading population-level driver of chronic stress linked to chronic illness in the United Kingdom. Economic pressure sustains stress, disrupts sleep, promotes unhealthy behaviours, and can limit access to healthcare, amplifying health inequalities. Other factors such as job insecurity and caregiving burdens contribute, but financial strain is the dominant factor. For organisations, addressing financial wellbeing and workplace stress—through flexible work, strong employee support programs, and scalable mental health resources (e.g., October’s group sessions and assessments)—can help mitigate this at scale.

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Chronic illness Prevalence
5.08%
Affected people
2,794,000

Impact on the people of United Kingdom

Chronic illness stress: effects on health and personal life

  • Health effects
    • Physical: fatigue, more pain flare-ups, sleep disruption, slower recovery.
    • Mental: higher anxiety, mood changes, depressive symptoms, irritability.
  • Personal life effects
    • Relationships: strain with loved ones, potential caregiver burden, social withdrawal.
    • Daily functioning: energy crashes, reduced motivation, trouble sticking to routines.
  • Work and finances
    • Lower productivity, more sick days, financial stress from medical costs and time off.
  • Long-term risks if stress remains high
    • Worsening of chronic condition, higher risk of burnout, reduced quality of life.
  • Coping and support
    • Energy management and pacing: plan tasks, rest, and balance demands.
    • Seek professional support: GP, IAPT (UK), or occupational health; discuss workplace accommodations.
    • Sleep hygiene and stress reduction: regular sleep schedule, mindfulness or breathing exercises.
    • Workplace adjustments: flexible hours, remote options, clear workload and breaks.
    • Digital supports: digital group sessions and content (e.g., October) to learn coping strategies.

Impact on the United Kingdom Economy

Impact of chronic illness-related stress on the economy (UK context)

  • Reduced labour supply and productivity due to higher sickness absence, presenteeism, and fatigue linked to chronic illness and mental health strain.
  • Increased health and social care costs for the NHS and welfare system, including long-term care, medicines, and disability support.
  • Higher rates of early retirement and disability, shrinking the working-age population and reducing potential GDP and tax revenues.
  • Macroeconomic ripple effects: weaker consumer demand and lower business investment due to lower real incomes and economic uncertainty.
  • Skills gaps and retraining needs as workers cycle in/out of employment, raising costs for hiring and upskilling.
  • Greater inequality and regional disparities, with larger economic penalties for groups with less access to care or job protections.
  • Mitigation: workplace mental health interventions and flexible work arrangements (including digital resources like October) can reduce absence and improve retention, lessening economic harm.

What can government do to assist?

  • Integrated care with mental health for chronic illness: ensure NHS pathways bring together primary care, specialists, and mental health support; routine distress screening and easy referrals to counselling or psychology services.

  • Flexible work and reasonable adjustments: enshrine flexible hours and remote/hybrid options as standard; require employers to implement reasonable adjustments; expand Access to Work to cover home-based setups and digital equipment.

  • Financial protections and job security: maintain adequate sick pay, easy access to disability benefits, and strong job protection during illness to reduce financial stress.

  • Digital and community mental health supports: scale evidence-based digital tools (for example, digital group sessions, assessments, and psychoeducation) and social prescribing to support ongoing mental health care; ensure equitable access.

  • Carer support and respite: provide paid carers’ leave, affordable respite services, and practical supports to reduce caregiver stress.

  • Public health campaigning and stigma reduction: promote early help-seeking, educate employers about chronic illness, and run stigma-reduction campaigns to improve workplace culture.

What can businesses do to assist their employees?

  • Flexible work arrangements and reasonable adjustments: offer flexible hours, remote/hybrid options, phased return, or adjusted duties; consider adjustments under the Equality Act 2010; be prepared to discuss flexible working requests after 26 weeks of service.

  • Structured return-to-work and workload management: create a written plan with HR or occupational health; implement a stepwise increase in workload; minimize non-essential meetings; schedule regular check-ins.

  • Time off for medical care and supportive absence policy: allow paid time off for appointments and treatment; provide flexible scheduling around healthcare needs; avoid penalties or stigma for medical-related absences.

  • Mental health support and accessible resources: provide confidential support options (EAP); offer October digital group sessions, assessments, and content to relevant staff; ensure easy access and clear signposting.

  • Culture, communication and confidentiality: train managers to handle chronic illness with empathy and reduce stigma; establish a point of contact for returning employees; protect privacy and limit sharing of medical information without consent.