When Nordic workers struggle, their employers are often the last to know

Mental health challenges continue to affect a large share of the Nordic workforce. Four in ten Nordic workers say their work ability has at some point been affected by mental health challenges. Among them, only one in four felt they received adequate support from their employer. In addition, one in four Nordic workers have considered leaving their job because of work-related stress during the past year.

Employers play a crucial role in creating a healthy and sustainable workplace. Findings from If Nordic Health Report 2026 show that employees highly value employers who prioritize health and mental well-being, underlining the importance of supporting employees not only to retain talent, but also to promote long-term health and work ability. 

Report summary – Employee wellbeing in the Nordics

Many Nordic employees experience mental health challenges that affect their ability to work, but few involve their employer when they are struggling. The If Nordic Health Report 2026 shows that employees are more likely to seek help from healthcare professionals or manage their challenges on their own than to talk to their manager. The report highlights that openness, early dialogue, and a supportive work environment are crucial for preventing sick leave and ensuring employees receive the support they need.

Key figures:

  • 40% of employees in the Nordic countries say that mental health challenges have affected their ability to work.
  • 46% of women report that their work ability has been affected, compared with 34% of men.
  • 24% of Nordic employees have considered changing jobs or industries due to work-related stress or mental health challenges during the past 12 months.

  • What makes an employer attractive? The most important factors for Nordic employees are:
    • Flexible work arrangements: 60%
    • Focus on health and mental well-being: 57%
    • High salary: 45%

Four in ten say work ability has been affected in the Nordics

Across the Nordic region, four in ten working adults say their work ability has at some point been negatively affected by mental health challenges. This may show up as lower energy levels, difficulty concentrating or sickness absence.

Source: If Nordic Health report 2026.

Share of people who say mental health challenges have affected their ability to work:

Women are significantly more likely than men to report that their work ability has been affected, with 46 per cent compared to 34 per cent. This gender gap is evident across all four Nordic countries. 

Age is another important factor. More than half of workers aged 18–29 (53 per cent) say mental health challenges have affected their ability to work. The figure remains high among those aged 30–44 (50 per cent) before declining in older age groups. While younger and mid-career workers report the highest impact overall, gender differences within these age groups are generally smaller than in the workforce as a whole.

Norway stands out as the country with the smallest gender gap. Among workers aged 18–29, young men are even slightly more likely than young women to report mental health challenges affecting their work ability (55 per cent versus 52 per cent). This contrasts sharply with Finland, where the corresponding figures are 42 per cent for men and 64 per cent for women.  

Compared with If's 2025 Nordic Health Report, levels have broadly returned to those seen in 2023 across most Nordic countries. A positive development, though the figures remain substantial, underlining the need for continue attention.

Employers play a crucial role in creating a healthy and sustainable workplace.

The silence that surrounds mental health issues

When their work ability was affected by mental health challenges, the most common source of support was a doctor, psychologist or other health professional, named by 51 per cent of respondents. The share was highest in Finland (62 per cent) and lowest in Sweden (42 per cent).

Family members were the second most common source of support (31 per cent), followed by friends at 21 per cent. Only 16 per cent turned to their manager, while just 4 per cent sought support from HR. In the age group of 18-29, only 9 per cent stated they had turned to their manager for support. 

Notably, one in five did not seek help from anyone at all, highlighting how mental health challenges often remain hidden from those who could provide support. Creating workplace cultures where people feel safe speaking up and seeking support is essential to both early intervention and prevention. 

– When facing mental health challenges, talking to someone can be an important first step. If you don't feel comfortable speaking with your manager, a colleague, a friend or a family member, do not hesitate seeking support from a healthcare professional, such as a doctor or psychologist. Reaching out early can help prevent challenges from becoming more serious and improve the chances of a fast recovery, says Kristina Ström Olsson, Nordic Health Strategist at If. 

Kristina Ström Olsson, Nordic Health Strategist at If.

Creating workplace cultures where people feel safe speaking up and seeking support is essential to both early intervention and prevention.

The gap between need and response is clear

Among those whose work ability had been affected by mental health challenges, only 24 per cent said their employer had provided sufficient support. A further 17 per cent felt they had received some support, but not enough, while 21 per cent said they would have liked support but did not receive it. At the same time, 26 per cent said they received no support and did not want any. In Finland that figure rises to 33 per cent. These findings point to a more complex challenge than employers simply failing to respond.

– What the findings show is a double challenge. Many employees do not raise mental health concerns with their employer, and when they do, many feel the support they receive is insufficient. This combination of silence and unmet needs can allow problems to escalate before they are recognised and addressed, says Kristina Ström Olsson. 

Source: If Nordic Health report 2026

Source: If Nordic Health report 2026.

One in four have considered leaving

Over the past twelve months, 24 per cent of Nordic workers have considered changing their job or industry due to work-related stress or mental health challenges. Among 30-44-year-olds, the figure rises to 35 per cent. Women are more likely than men to have considered leaving their job (27 per cent versus 20 per cent), while Sweden reports the highest national figure at 27 per cent.  In the other Nordic countries the figures are the following:

  • Denmark 21 per cent
  • Norway 22 per cent
  • Finland 24 per cent
  • The Nordics in total 24 per cent

Those most likely to consider leaving their jobs are people in the middle or prime of their careers. Rather than those nearing retirement or just entering the workforce, it is employees at a stage when both professional and personal demands are often high who are most likely to consider a change.  

24 per cent of Nordic workers have considered changing their job or industry due to work-related stress or mental health challenges.

What workers want - and what helps

When asked what makes an employer attractive, Nordic workers rank flexible working arrangements first (60 per cent), followed closely by a strong focus on health and mental wellbeing (57 per cent). High salary ranks third at 45 per cent. The ranking of the factors varies slightly between the Nordic countries. In Norway, a strong focus on health and well-being is the number-one factor that makes an employer attractive.

The findings suggest that flexibility and a strong focus on health and mental well-being help make an employer attractive, but they are not enough on their own to address the root causes of stress and mental health challenges.

While flexibility is valued, workers are more likely to point to regular physical activity, financial security, structure, predictability and manageable expectations as factors that would reduce stress in daily life, by comparison, only 12 per cent say that greater flexibility to work from home would reduce their stress. These are shaped less by where work happens and more by how work is organised and led. 

Top factors for an attractive employer among Nordic workers

Source: If Nordic Health report 2026

Addressing mental health challenges takes more than a benefits package.

The workplace as a health arena

Mental health challenges are widespread in Nordic working life, yet they often remain invisible to employers, despite their impact on individuals, organisations and society. The consequences can be seen in reduced work ability, sickness absence, and employees considering leaving their jobs altogether.  

The scale of the challenge is not uniquely Nordic. According to the World Health Organization estimates published in 2022, depression and anxiety account for 12 billion lost working days globally each year, at a cost of nearly US$ 1 trillion in lost productivity.  

Addressing mental health challenges takes more than a benefits package. It requires workplaces where employees feel safe raising concerns before they reach a crisis point, where expectations are clear and where early signs of strain are recognised and acted upon. Leadership matters as much as policy. 

– The findings also show that 52 per cent of people across the Nordic region experienced involuntary loneliness during the past year. What people say they need most to reduce loneliness is a sense of belonging and meaningful activities. Here, the workplace can play an important role, says Kristina Ström Olsson. 

Employers also have a clear responsibility for the psychosocial work environment and for preventing work-related stress and mental ill-health.

Employers that invest in preventive health measures and respond effectively when people are struggling do more than support the well-being of their workforce. They strengthen retention, resilience and productivity, while reducing the far greater costs of addressing problems only after they have escalated.

About the survey

This article is based on a Nordic survey conducted by Verian on behalf of If Insurance, with responses from 4,126 people in Sweden (n=1,001), Denmark (n=1,033), Norway (n=1,014) and Finland (n=1,078) between 4 February and 16 February 2026. The results are weighted for gender, age and location to represent the population's attitudes. Questions on help-seeking and employer support were answered by the 1,646 respondents who reported their work ability had been negatively affected by mental well-being issues.

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